Chelsea could beat Arsenal to striker Nicolo Tresoldi with January move
Arsenal's interest in Nicolo Tresoldi could be undercut by a rival move from Chelsea, with the Stamford Bridge club reportedly ready to accelerate their pursuit of the Club Brugge striker in the coming weeks.
Tresoldi has emerged as one of the more intriguing young forwards in European football, impressing for Brugge since his move to Belgium. Several major clubs were said to be interested in him during the summer of 2026, making it something of a surprise that he stayed put at the Belgian club. He has continued to build on that form this season, including in the Champions League, and his performances have only added to his growing reputation.
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Chelsea plotting January approach
According to Caught Offside, Chelsea are serious about signing Tresoldi and intend to step up their efforts in the near future, with a possible approach as early as January. That timeline would put them ahead of Arsenal, who are believed to be monitoring the striker but may prefer to wait until the summer before making a concrete move.
Caught Offside's reporting should be treated with a degree of caution given the outlet's mixed track record on transfer stories, but the broader picture, that Tresoldi is attracting serious interest from multiple clubs, lines up with his form this season.
A waiting game that could backfire
Arsenal's patience could prove costly if Chelsea follow through on their reported intentions. A concrete offer in the winter window from a club of Chelsea's stature could tempt Tresoldi to push for a move sooner rather than later, rather than waiting to see what materialises in the summer.
Arteta's side have shown in recent windows that they are willing to be patient and selective in the market, often preferring to negotiate on their own timeline rather than rush into deals. That approach has generally served the club well, but it does carry the risk of missing out on targets who have other suitors willing to move faster.
Arsenal's attacking options will likely be a point of focus again in the coming transfer windows, and a player of Tresoldi's profile, young, proven at a reasonable level, and already adapting to Champions League football, fits the kind of long term investment the club has favoured under Arteta.
Whether that translates into a formal approach before Chelsea potentially move first remains to be seen. For now, Tresoldi's situation at Brugge is one worth watching closely as the January window approaches.
