Brooke Norton-Cuffy is set to leave Arsenal on a permanent basis and join Serie A side Genoa, with a medical test scheduled.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have decided to find a permanent solution for emerging right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy after agreeing to a deal with Genoa. The player appears on his way to Italy as things stand, with medical tests already scheduled for later in the week.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy to join Genoa
Arsenal have produced some notable talents through their academy ranks over the last few years since Per Mertesacker took over the proceedings. The Gunners have already shown plenty of their young stars are very close to first-team action during their pre-season, as at least two or three could regularly train with the first team during the upcoming season.
For instance, Mikel Arteta has extensively used Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly during the off-season, and the duo seems ready to gain plenty of minutes during the upcoming campaign. Then there are others like Josh Nichols and Ayden Heaven, who have also made a lasting impression, although they are still some way away from Arteta’s senior squad.
Sticking with Nichols, his emergence as a right-back has seen Arteta keep 20-year-old Arsenal whizkid Brooke Norton-Cuffy behind in London during their recent tour of the USA. Hence, the chances of him making the grade in the future seem doubtful, as the Gunners have now decided to sell him on a permanent basis.
Genoa have agreed to a deal with Arsenal for the 20-year-old right-back, with the Serie A side set to pay €2 million plus €2 million in add-ons for Norton-Cuffy. The player seems to be open to the idea, as medical tests are already booked for later this week, ahead of signing a five-year deal there. As per Fabrizio Romano, Genoa had to beat competition from Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and UK teams for the right-back.
Genoa could end their right-back search
Genoa took Tottenham star Djed Spence on loan as part of their deal to sell Radu Dragusin last January. They were keen on signing the right-back on a permanent basis, and despite advancing in talks, the deal stalled back in June.
Norton-Cuffy’s signing would be seen as an alternative to Spence, with the two players very similar in their profiles. The Arsenal man also has consistent experience playing for lower-league sides over the last few seasons, and now he might see himself as Genoa’s starting right-back in the new campaign. With his arrival, the Serie A side could end their search for a new right-back.
