Arsenal are reportedly losing hope on keeping hold of 15-year-old wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri, with the attacker attracting interest from rival clubs Chelsea and Manchester City.
According to the Telegraph, the Gunners are at serious risk of losing the England youth international despite making Nwaneri the youngest player ever to feature in a Premier League game, with the teenager yet to reach an agreement to extend his stay at Arsenal.
Players can turn professional the day they turn 17, meaning Arsenal have to wait until March 2024 to sign Nwaneri to a full-time contract, and as a result, the midfielder is free to leave should he be tempted by interest from other clubs, such as Chelsea and City.
As per the report, the English sides are just two of many top clubs interested in signing Nwaneri, who is increasingly likely to leave Arsenal despite being highly rated at the club by the likes of Per Mertesacker and Mikel Arteta, with the youngster also tipped for greatness by supporters.
Indeed, Nwaneri leaving Arsenal would be a massive blow for the club, who last summer lost Omari Hutchinson to Chelsea in a surprise transfer. And for many supporters, the 15-year-old could be making a mistake in leaving the north London club for a rival side.
As we have seen, Arteta is not afraid to give youth a chance, with Bukayo Saka arguably Arsenal’s best player this season with Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe also key names in the senior squad. And Nwaneri could easily become a similar figure should he stay with the Gunners.
Nwaneri would be making a big mistake should he leave Arsenal
If there’s one club amongst the Premier League big-six that have shown they’re willing to give youth a chance in the senior team, it’s Arsenal, and this is the main reason why Nwaneri would be making a big mistake in leaving the north London side.
Arteta took a risk and gave the attacking midfielder a debut that broke records, and whilst Nwaneri will get paid more at Chelsea or City, there’s simply no chance that the youngster will get as many opportunities than the teenager currently gets at the Gunners.
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