Chelsea may be about to turn to Arsenal as they aim to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.

New manager Xabi Alonso wanted former Gunners captain Granit Xhaka, whom he knows very well from their time together at Bayer Leverkusen.

Of course, Alonso was the one who signed the Swiss midfielder from Arsenal, and together they won the Bundesliga title unbeaten.

Arsenal fans, what was your instant reaction when you heard Granit Xhaka wants to join Chelsea?

But Xhaka chose to stay loyal to Sunderland, where he has been a revelation since joining for £17million last summer.

Chelsea instead signed Jordan Henderson — a good leader and experienced head, but not quite the technical midfield improvement Alonso was looking for.

Now, according to Chelsea journalist Simon Phillips on Substack, Alonso has told his higher-ups that there is an Arsenal player he really likes and is of interest to him.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is a ‘big fan’ of Martin Zubimendi

That player is Martin Zubimendi. And it is worth noting that Alonso wanted to sign him for Real Madrid last summer too.

It should be noted that Phillips is clear he is not saying Chelsea are actively pursuing a deal, but the player has been mentioned, and Alonso is a ‘big fan’.

Zubimendi, who Mikel Arteta describes as “exceptional”, was an integral part of Arsenal’s title-winning campaign.

Do you think Martin Zubimendi is underrated in the Arsenal fanbase?

The World Cup winner was the only player for the Gunners to feature in every single Premier League game. He’s only the second player to do so in his debut season since 1993.

He may have lost his starting spot to Myles Lewis-Skelly in the final weeks of the run-in, but he was so important last season. Football fans have short memories.

But questions are now ramping up about Zubimendi’s future at the club following Bruno Guimaraes’ anticipated £75million arrival.

Is £75 million a good price for Bruno Guimaraes or a risky overpayment given his age?

The Brazilian midfielder turns 29 in November…🤔

That’s understandable, with Declan Rice, Guimaraes, Lewis-Skelly all competing for midfield minutes, where does Zubimendi fit?

That’s without even mentioning Mikel Merino, though he could be used more in an attacking role next season.

But Zubimendi should still get plenty of gametime. Rice will need to be rotated and protected more carefully this season after the toll last year took on his body.

Zubimendi provides reliable cover as someone who can slot in seamlessly without the level dropping too much.

Arsenal are unlikely to sell unless it’s an offer close to the £55million they paid for him last summer.