Chelsea, Arsenal handed boost in signing Argentine defender

Chelsea and Arsenal have been handed a boost in signing Nicolas Tagliafico from Ajax after his agent confirmed that he will pursue a fresh move away from the Dutch champions.

The left-back has a verbal agreement to leave the club this summer and his availability has caught the eye of numerous European sides including Chelsea and Arsenal.

Speaking to The Star, agent Ricardo Schlieper refused to disclose the interested clubs but confirmed that the defender will part ways with the Amsterdam outfit.

"We are looking for a transfer for Tagliafico. We have agreed with Ajax that he would leave this year. After having spent two-and-a-half seasons at the club, it's the ideal moment for it," He told.

The Blues are looking for a new left-sided defender and they are prepared to offload one of Marcos Alonso or Emerson in the process. The Gunners, meanwhile, have Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney as the specialists.

Both defenders have been injured for most of the current season and there has been the speculation that Kolasinac could be shown the exit door in the next transfer window.

Young graduate Bukayo Saka has done a terrific job as the makeshift left-back in the absence of the pair but the club are said to view the youngster's future in a more advanced position.