Andrey Arshavin says Chelsea target ‘will join’ as talented Russian opens loan door

Chelsea target Arsen Zakharyan has opened the door on a loan move and “will join” the club in the January transfer window, according to Andrey Arshavin.

Arshavin, who made his named across London with Arsenal, says his compatriot “must” make the move to the Premier League to further his career. It transpired the move for the Russian was poleaxed due to Government red tape.

The transfer from Dynamo Moscow looked all set to go through on deadline day last week.

Chelsea had seen an offer for the 19-year-old midfielder accepted. And the player’s agent confirmed he was close to joining the Blues in deal worth around £12.5m.

His representative, Pavel Andreev, said: “This is true. Everything is close.”

But it emerged on deadline day that sanctions placed on Russia by the U.K. authorities made the deal impossible. It would have meant the transfer of funds from Chelsea to Dynamo would not have been given the green light.

Journalist Hrach Khachatryan even claimed “one of Chelsea’s requirements” was that Zakharyan apply to change his citizenship from Russian to Armenian.

But the Russian club tweeted: “Arsen Zakharyan remains at Dynamo.

“On August 25, Dynamo received an offer from Chelsea regarding the transition. However, due to a number of technical reasons beyond our control, it is impossible to transfer the player to this. It was decided that Arsene would continue to play for Dynamo.”

Arshavin, who made over 100 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, would be hugely beneficial for his fellow countryman.

“I’m not upset that Zakharyan’s transfer to Chelsea failed,” said Arshavin, via Chelsea-news. “Well, he will join in January. At first, he will not be starter, but then he will be. He must join Chelsea.”

Zakharyan, who has one goal and two assists from seven games this season, remains desperate to make the move and opened the door on a loan.

Zakharyan desperate for transfer

He told Sport Express in Russia: “There was an offer, but it just didn’t work out. You probably know the reasons.

“How could I refuse? Of course, I agreed [to the move]. I hope everything will be fine. The next window? Maybe.

“Of course, the level there is much higher than in the Russian Premier League, but everything is possible.

“Maybe it would work there. I could always go on loan.”

Zakharyan arrived on the radar of Chelsea and a number of other clubs including Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Roma registering nine goals and nine assists in all competitions.

He helped Dynamo finish third in the Russian Premier League and reach the final of the domestic cup.