Madueke targeted by Atletico and Juventus as Arsenal loan exit looms in January

Noni Madueke is attracting interest from Atletico Madrid and Juventus, with a loan exit from Arsenal in January increasingly possible after the £50 million summer signing has managed just 27 minutes of Premier League football this season.

The 24-year-old winger, recruited from Chelsea, has made only two top-flight appearances — both as a substitute — and his sole starts have come in the Community Shield and a League Cup third-round win over Ipswich. According to The Telegraph, any move in the winter window would be a temporary arrangement rather than a permanent sale.

Madueke still has close to four years remaining on his Arsenal contract, which means the club are under no pressing obligation to let him go. But with Mikel Arteta yet to hand him a league start and Thomas Tuchel omitting him from the latest England squad, a loan spell offering regular football is emerging as a logical short-term solution for all parties.

The situation marks a sharp contrast to this time last year, when Madueke had started four of Arsenal’s opening five league games before a knee injury derailed his campaign.

Elsewhere in Arsenal news, Cesc Fabregas has effectively been cleared to return to the Emirates Stadium as a manager should he choose to pursue that path.

The former Gunners captain has impressed since taking charge of Serie A side Como in 2024, and reports indicate his contract contains a clause permitting him to leave for one of his former clubs — Arsenal, Barcelona, or Chelsea — without triggering a significant compensation fee.

Como president Mirwan Suwarso did not deny the clause’s existence when pressed on the matter, instead suggesting that Fabregas, who also holds a minority stake in the club, will be free to take the next step in his managerial career at a time of his choosing.

Arteta’s position at Arsenal remains secure, and there is no suggestion the club are actively pursuing Fabregas for any role. The clause nonetheless keeps the door open for a future return to north London in the dugout.

On the pitch, Arsenal head into the weekend looking to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat to Brighton last month. Arteta’s side had won seven of their opening eight fixtures, including a 3-0 Community Shield victory over Manchester City, before that setback, and face Leeds in their next domestic outing.