Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly among the clubs keenly following the progress of 18-year-old Scottish left-back Josh Doig.
According to a report by Sky Sports, Josh Doig has captured the attention of Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea. The 18-year-old Scottish full-back is also the subject of interest from a number of other clubs, including Celtic, Manchester City and Leeds United.
Josh Doig joined Hibernian from Edinburgh rivals Hearts in the summer of 2019 before going on to finish his footballing education a year later. The teenager broke into the first-team setup at Easter Road back in August last year and has since gone on to rake in 19 further appearances this term.
Having established a foothold in Hibernian’s senior squad, the player’s progress is starting to get noticed by some of the biggest clubs, not just in Scotland but also in England. Some of the potential suitors include Arsenal and Chelsea.
Arsenal have been reported to be in the market for a left-back, with recent reports suggesting that they have stepped up their efforts to sign Jordan Amavi. The keenness to bolster the left side of the defence is not unfounded, seeing as Sead Kolasinac, who joined Schalke on loan this month, does not have much of a future at the Emirates.
With Ainsley Maitland-Niles’s future also being uncertain, Cedric Soares remains the only option to play as a left-back, seeing as Bukayo Saka is a regular in attack nowadays. As a result, it is crucial for Arsenal to sign a natural left-back, which is why they have been linked with Tyrick Mitchell and Ryan Bertrand among others. Doig is also a viable target for the Gunners, who could battle Chelsea in his pursuit.
The Blues’ interest makes sense as well, considering Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri are both likely to be shown the exit door at Stamford Bridge, either this month or in the summer. That leaves newly-appointed Chelsea manager Ben Chilwell as the only natural left-back at his disposal, which is why someone like Doig could be signed to be the Englishman’s understudy.
Apart from Arsenal and Chelsea, Celtic are also keeping tabs on the 18-year-old and are touted to possibly make a move for him in the summer. In addition, Manchester City and Leeds United are also tracking the progress of Doig, meaning a transfer battle could be on the cards.
For now, though, Arsenal and Chelsea are simply monitoring the teenager and it remains to be seen if they launch the offensive for him later this year. What does appear to be certain is that Doig is starting to make an impression on some of the biggest clubs in the world and should have a bright future ahead of him.