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Before Chelsea seemingly waded in and started swinging their chequebook around on the transfer market, Arsenal were doing their homework on Brentford’s Saïd Benrahma.

Back in February, it was reported by France Football that former players from the Gunners had ‘whispered’ the Algeria international’s name to those in charge at the Emirates, advising them to snap up the talent before someone else did.

Chelsea now appear to be in the lead, but they aren’t the only ones competing against Arsenal in the race, as Leicester City are also hovering.

This is all according to RMC Sport’s Mohamed Bouhafsi, who took to social media on Monday afternoon to announced that Chelsea had taken the first steps in trying to sign the Brentford star.

He explained they had contacted the player’s entourage and let the Championship club know they liked what they saw before adding at the end that both Leicester and Arsenal were also keen.

There isn’t much else, but one thing is now very clear for both Brendan Rodgers and Mikel Arteta: if they want Benrahma in their club’s colours at either the King Power Stadium or the Emirates next year, they will have to move quickly and decisively.