Chelsea and Arsenal Eye January Move for Feyenoord’s Gjivai Zechiël

Chelsea and Arsenal are reportedly monitoring Feyenoord midfielder Gjivai Zechiël ahead of the January transfer window, according to Caught Offside. The Dutch club are said to value the 22-year-old at around £26m (€30m), which sets up a potential transfer battle.

Why Chelsea Need Midfield Reinforcements

Chelsea let Andrey Santos and Enzo Fernandez depart this summer, yet Jordan Henderson was their only midfield arrival. Dario Essugo, who battled fitness issues after arriving from Sporting CP, has since joined Strasbourg on loan.

That leaves Xabi Alonso with Henderson, Moisés Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Valentin Barco as recognised holding options. Caicedo has recently been sidelined, while Lavia has struggled with injuries since moving from Southampton. Alonso has even had to deploy right-backs Reece James and Malo Gusto in central areas, suggesting fresh reinforcements could be on the agenda.

Arsenal Also Keeping Tabs

Arsenal are reportedly tracking Zechiël too. Mikel Arteta’s side signed Bruno Guimaraes and sold Christian Norgaard to Everton in the summer, but the Gunners boss is thought to want additional depth in that area.

Feyenoord Set Firm Price

Lille tabled a formal offer for Zechiël this summer, but Feyenoord rejected it and retained him. With his contract running until 2028, the Eredivisie club are reportedly unwilling to sell cheaply in midwinter.

The right-footed Dutchman can operate as a defensive midfielder or in a box-to-box role, and has been involved in nine goals in all competitions this season.

Our Take

In my opinion, Chelsea have the more pressing need given the injury problems and reliance on out-of-position full-backs. Arsenal’s requirement feels more like squad polish than genuine necessity, which could make a difference if the Blues move decisively. Feyenoord’s firm stance may complicate negotiations, too. At £26m, the price looks reasonable for a young midfielder with room to grow, though a January deal remains far from certain.