Arsenal have reportedly joined the race to sign wantaway Chelsea attacker Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The 21-year-old has struggled to become a regular fixture in the Blues XI under Thomas Tuchel and has supposedly informed the Blues of his desire to leave the club.
Hudson-Odoi is behind the likes of Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz in the pecking order and is yet to make his first top-flight appearance of the new season.
Injuries have not helped the England international, who is understood to be on the radar of Borussia Dortmund, Southampton and Newcastle United.
A recent report claimed that Dortmund were leading the race to sign Hudson-Odoi, who would become the latest young Englishman to make the switch to the Westfalenstadion.
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However, according to the Chelsea Spot podcast - via CaughtOffside - Arsenal have now jumped to the head of the queue for Hudson-Odoi's signature as he seeks regular game time.
Arsenal could be in the market for a new wide man if Nicolas Pepe is granted a move away from the club, with the £72m man not being considered for starts under Mikel Arteta.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe are all preferred to Pepe, who is allegedly wanted by Ligue 1 side Nice on a season-long loan with an option to buy.
Pepe's exit would free up room for Hudson-Odoi to move to the Emirates, but the Englishman may not be able to cement his place in the starting XI ahead of Saka and Martinelli.
Hudson-Odoi has amassed 16 goals and 22 assists in 126 games for Chelsea since coming through their youth ranks, including three goals and six assists from 28 matches last term.
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The attacker only started 11 Premier League matches for Tuchel's side last term, though, and he was not named in the squad for the 1-0 win over Everton before making the bench against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.
Tuchel has already sanctioned Romelu Lukaku's loan exit for Inter Milan and Timo Werner's permanent departure for RB Leipzig this summer, and the Blues are being tipped to add to their wide ranks with the signing of Anthony Gordon.
Everton are believed to have already rejected two bids - one in the region of £40m and another of £45m - for Gordon, who would be open to a switch to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea also continue to be linked with a move for ex-Arsenal attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but Barcelona would demand at least £20m to sell the 33-year-old this summer.
The two London rivals have already done business once in the current window, with Omari Hutchinson leaving the Gunners' youth setup to sign for the Blues.
Ben Knapton
