Considering he's only ever been a squad player at the Emirates Stadium, starting just 16 Premier League matches last season, it perhaps seems strange that the Gunners are putting up such a fight to keep the 24-year-old. But the report claims that the club's tactics have failed, with Oxlade-Chamberlain telling Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis that he wants to leave.

Chelsea are prepared to pay £35 million for the England international who, like Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, is in the final year of his contract.

The Blues have also lined up bids for Ross Barkley and Danny Drinkwater, according to several reports in Britain, as Antonio Conte looks to build a new English core at Stamford Bridge.