Premier League: Chelsea and Liverpool want to sign former Arsenal star

According to recent media sources, Liverpool is willing to provide a hefty contract to attract the African midfielder.

In addition, reports have it that Graham Potter's Chelsea are also keen. The new Blues manager has his sights set on the AC Milan midfielder.

Reports from last month claimed that Milan is in a state of panic because of Liverpool's interest in Bennacer. The club desperately wants to extend Bennacer's contract, which is set to expire in 2024.

This week, it was reported that Liverpool is interested in signing the Algerian, who is now in the final year of his contract. Jurgen Klopp is reportedly willing to pay him £3.5 million per year to stay at the club, £2 million more than the offer he is receiving from AC Milan.

Milan is allegedly seeking a transfer fee of £35 million to £45 million to release him.

What Bennacer does in the following two time periods will be worth watching. Even if Arsenal has already regretted letting him go, their remorse would be compounded if he signs with a direct rival like Liverpool or Chelsea and becomes a star there.

How has Ismael Bennacer fared since Arsenal 

Bennacer, at only 24, is an exceptional young player, having made over 90 appearances for Milan since joining the club in 2019. He was a crucial cog in Milan's 2019 Scudetto victory, they're first since the 2010–2011 season.

As a full international, the midfielder has appeared 40 times for Algeria, with his best play coming at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Once his country won its first major trophy since 1990, thanks mainly to Bennacer, he was honoured as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Formerly a promising young Arsenal player, Ismael Bennacer, was permitted to depart the club by Arsene Wenger for a pitiful sum. Premier League rivals Liverpool and Chelsea are reportedly interested in acquiring his services.

The Algerian joined Arsenal in 2015 when he arrived from AC Arlésien of France. Even at the tender age of 17, his ability and talent were evident to all. But he had already been sold at the end of the two years.

Bennacer played for Arsenal's youth teams for 32 games, contributing two goals and two assists.

His Man of the Match performance in the UEFA Youth League match against Bayern Munich delighted everyone at the club, particularly academy manager Andries Jonker.

It didn't hurt that Wenger, who never shied away from giving young players a shot, thought highly of Bennacer. 

After seven years in the minor leagues, the renowned Frenchman gave the midfielder his first-team debut in the EFL Cup against Sheffield Wednesday.

Bennacer has shown over the past five years that Arsenal made a mistake by allowing him to leave.