Chelsea 'offered' shock chance to sign second Arsenal star as Xabi Alonso plots stunning double raid

Chelsea are looking to sign a second Arsenal player after Martin Zubimendi, as Xabi Alonso continues his relentless pursuit of new additions.

Alonso was appointed manager of Chelsea earlier this summer, but unlike some of his predecessors, was not named as head coach.

The Spaniard has had more control over the club's transfer policy, emphasised by the business the Blues have completed so far this summer.

The former Real Madrid boss personally spearheaded the additions of Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson from Brighton and Brentford, respectively, giving his squad some much-needed top-level experience.

Marco Palestra's £47 million arrival from Atalanta also enables him to use his favoured three-man defence with wing-backs, as will left wing-back Pep Chavarria, who Chelsea have agreed to sign for £16.3m plus add-ons from Rayo Vallecano.

Morgan Rogers' British record £117m move from Aston Villa remains their most eye-catching signing of the summer, and he will play alongside Cole Palmer as one of two number 10s in Alonso's exciting system.

All of the above moves were driven by the Spaniard, and the same applies to reported interest in Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Alonso knows Zubimendi extremely well, having coached him at his first managerial job at Real Sociedad B, and he isn't the only Gunners star the Chelsea boss is chasing.

Chelsea 'offered' chance to sign Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly

According to football.London, Chelsea have been 'offered' the chance to sign Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly this summer following the recent arrival of Bruno Guimaraes.

The Blues are battling for the 19-year-old's signature alongside Manchester United, who have shown an interest in the teenager as a potential option to rival Luke Shaw at left-back.

It is claimed that if Arsenal received a good offer from Chelsea for Lewis-Skelly, they would find it difficult to stand in his way of departing.

A product of the Gunners' Hale End academy, the youngster has also spent time at Cobham, but despite only signing a contract extension at the Emirates Stadium last year, could be moved on this summer.

Capable of playing as a left-back or a central midfielder across various systems, the Englishman has impressed in multiple positions since breaking into the first team and made 10 appearances in the Champions League last term.

He has started every pre-season game as a defensive midfielder in the absence of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Guimaraes.

However, once those players return to the fold after their World Cup exertions, he will be pushed down the pecking order, making his starting opportunities limited.

Lewis-Skelly faces a similar problem at left back, as he's in a battle with Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie for a place in the side, which explains why Arsenal are open to offloading him.

A departure for Lewis-Skelly, therefore, will not come as a surprise, though a direct move to Chelsea would do.

Olivier Giroud was the last player to move directly from the Gunners to the Blues in 2018, and before that, it was Ashley Cole's controversial £5 million transfer in 2006.