Chelsea eye another transfer raid on Arsenal as Aaron Ramsey’s contract approaches final year

Chelsea are monitoring Aaron Ramsey’s situation at Arsenal.

The 27-year-old Wales midfielder will have just a year left on his contract at the Emirates come the summer and has yet to commit himself to a new deal.

Ramsey, who has six goals and eight assists in the Premier League this season, has admitted that there is still no movement on a new deal.

“Nothing to comment on at the moment,” Ramsey told BT Sport. “I think they’ve been busy to tie up other contracts at the moment.”

After their poor title defence and with a top-four place and Champions League qualification next season in the balance, the Blues are set to once again overhaul their squad in the off-season.

We revealed their interest in Ramsey’s then-teammate, striker Olivier Giroud, two months ago, before the soon-to-be-deposed champions signed the Frenchman.

They also tried to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – another who had a year left at Arsenal – before the England midfielder rejected them to join Liverpool in August.

Chelsea eventually took advantage of Ross Barkley’s refusal to sign a new deal at Everton with only six months left on his contract.

There is uncertainty over the futures of a number of the Blues beyond this season. Cesc Fabregas will have just a year left in the summer. Fellow midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, signed for £40million from Monaco in July, has been a bitter disappointment and centre-back David Luiz has fallen out with manager Antonio Conte.

Chelsea’s interest in Ramsey comes as Blues legend Frank Lampard warns Arsenal to do whatever it takes to tie the Welshman to a new deal.

Former midfielder Lampard said: “I’m an admirer of Aaron Ramsey and Arsenal must try to secure his long-term future at the club.

“Ramsey has just over a year left on his contract and once again Arsenal have got themselves in a position where one of their key players’ deals is running out.

“I feel some sympathy for him because his position has changed over the years at the club. Sometimes, because they’ve had so many attacking midfielders, he’s been dropped further back.

“He is class when at his best and I do feel there is another level for him to strive for. He showed great quality at the 2016 European Championship.

“Arsenal need to keep their good British players and build the team around them, with more strength and power as a priority.”