Manchester United and Chelsea will look to battle it out for Arsenal sensation Ethan Nwaneri.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea are both interested in securing the services of Arsenal sensation Ethan Nwaneri in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The teenager is the youngster player ever to play in the Premier League when he came off against Brentford last September at the age of 15 years and 181 days. That remains his only senior appearance for the Gunners so far. But his potential was clear for all to see.
Nwaneri’s terms at the Emirates as a schoolboy expires this summer. And as of yet, there is no news of him penning a professional contract with Arsenal. This has attracted attention of Chelsea and Manchester United, both of who are keen to add him to their youth ranks.
Chelsea, under Todd Boehly, have added considerably not just to their senior squad but also to their youth ranks. The likes of Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei, Andre Santos, Gabriel Slolina, and more recently, Kendry Paez have all been acquired keeping an eye on the future.
The likes of Mason Mount, Reece James, Conor Gallagher, Callum Hudon-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek among others have all come through the ranks, eventually breaking into the senior team. Much recently, they also invited the Under-14 team’s skipper, Charlie Holland to train with the senior side.
His soon-to-be-announced successor, Mauricio Pochettino is no different and is an excellent developer of young talent. There is every reason to believe the Blues can not just provide Nwaneri with the base needed to succeed but also provide him with a clear pathway to the senior side.
The same can be said of Manchester United, who are adopting a new strategy under Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman put together a solid young squad at Ajax and knows full well how to develop promise. His handling of Alejandro Garnacho does justice to his reputation.
Arsenal, however, remain confident of retaining their youth sensation and are already in talks regarding a new contract. Another teenager Myles Lewis-Kelly recently signed a new deal and there is hope at the Emirates that Nwaneri will follow suit. However, the longer they wait to reach an agreement, the more it gives rivals an opportunity to swoop in.
