Arsen Zakharyan has said that he had the chance to move to Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea.
According to The London Evening Standard, Chelsea were interested in signing Arsen Zakharyan from Dynamo Moscow in the summer transfer window.
Chelsea linked with summer move for Arsen Zakharyan
The report has claimed that Chelsea have been trying to sign Zakharyan for a while.
The London Evening Standard has described the winger as “a long-term target” for the former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners.
Zakharyan moved to La Liga club Real Sociedad from Russian Premier League outfit Dynamo Moscow in the summer of 2023.
Sociedad reportedly paid £10.3 million in transfer fees to secure the services of the 20-year-old, who can also operate as an attacking midfielder.
According to The London Evening Standard, Chelsea’s bids for the winger “came unstuck due to British sanctions against Russia” because of the situation in Ukraine.
Chelsea’s plan to send the youngster to Strasbourg also failed.
Arsen Zakharyan on turning down Chelsea
Zakharyan has said that he did not want to move to Chelsea in the first place, saying that he is very happy with his decision to join Sociedad.
The 20-year-old said, as quoted in The London Evening Standard: “For me, it was more interesting to come to Real Sociedad than to Chelsea
“It was also a more realistic option.
“I realised that I was already a Real player when I signed, I was worried about some issues during the negotiation but now… here I am.”
Zakharyan has made two substitute appearances in La Liga for Sociedad so far this season.
The 20-year-old scored one goal and gave assist in three Russian Premier League matches for Dynamo Moscow this season before his move to Sociedad.
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