Chelsea have emerged as the favourites to sign Sergio Aguero with the departing Manchester City forward ‘determined’ to stay in the Premier League, according to reports.
City’s all-time top goalscorer will leave the Etihad when his contract comes to an end this summer after ten illustrious years in Manchester.
According to the Mail, Chelsea have stepped up their pursuit of the Argentine star, who has won four Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and five League Cups in Manchester.
Aguero is believed to be attracting interest from Europe, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG all keen on the striker, but he would prefer to remain in the Premier League as he believes he still has much to give in England.
Roman Abramovich wants to add more firepower to his ranks, despite spending more than £100million on Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech last summer transfer window.
Aguero, who has scored 257 goals in 384 matches for the Citizens, is seen as the ideal player who can add some much needed quality to the attack.
Chelsea have also been linked with Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland, whose father and agent Mino Raiola held transfer talks with Barcelona and Real Madrid on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has ruled out making a move for Aguero. The Gunners tied down Aubameyang to a new long-term deal earlier this campaign and it is believed the Arsenal boss is keen to focus on promoting youth at the club.
When asked whether Arsenal could make a move for Aguero, Arteta said: “No, no, no… we will see what happens with him in the future.”
Arteta also praised Aguero for ‘changing the face’ of Man City since his arrival. He said: “Anybody that has been close to Sergio would say the same thing. He has probably been the main face or one of the three main faces that has lifted that project.
“You need some leadership, some quality, players to create moments to start to build a project like they did and Sergio is probably the biggest face on that project.
“It is not only the way in which he plays [but] his charisma, personality and the way he is. He is loved by everybody at the club. “It is sad to see someone leaving like him but I think what he has done there he will be in the history.”
