Arsenal are reportedly among the clubs tracking 18-year-old English whizkid Abdul Abdulmalik, currently at Championship outfit Millwall.
According to a report by football.london, Arsenal are interested in signing Abdul Abdulmalik in the summer transfer window. The Premier League heavyweights have kept a close eye on his progress at Millwall in the past year or so, with Rangers and Swansea City also interested in the 18-year-old English whizkid.
Abdul Abdulmalik has been with Millwall since 2016 and over the past half-a-decade or so, the teenage prodigy has made tremendous progress in the Lions’ youth setup. The 18-year-old has made quite a splash in the FA Youth Cup, in particular, with four goals in six appearances in the competition.
His incredible growth earned Abdulmalik a call-up to the England under-17 side in January. He has now alerted some of the biggest clubs in England and beyond. Among those keeping a keen eye on the English whizkid’s development are Arsenal, who could be making a splash for him this summer.
Arsenal already have one young attacking prodigy in Folarin Balogun. However, the youngster is likely to be incorporated in the first-team setup next term if the Gunners can offload Eddie Nketiah, who has recently been offered to Leeds United and is expected to depart the Emirates this summer.
Balogun’s potential permanent promotion to the first-team setup will create a void in the Arsenal under-23 side, with Luke Plange leaving the club and Nikolaj Moller likely to be loaned out in the summer transfer window. This is where someone like Abdulmalik could come into the picture.
He’s a big baller. pic.twitter.com/izOvMYqUaG
— Rising Ballers (@RisingBallers_) June 14, 2021
The 18-year-old whizkid could initially slot into the under-23 side before eventually following the pathway that Balogun is taking. Having said that, with Arsenal showing an interest in Alexander Isak, a clear route towards their first-team setup could well be blocked.
Nevertheless, with Abdulmalik not expected to sign a professional deal with Millwall, Arsenal would believe that he will be ripe for the taking. However, the Gunners will have to fend off some stiff competition for the English prodigy, who is also being courted by Rangers and Swansea City.
In fact, Swansea have previously even made an offer for Abdulmalik, which was swiftly rejected by Millwall. What now remains to be seen is if Arsenal can make massive strides towards the prodigious forward or if he chooses to join some other club this summer.