Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are competing for Jadon Sancho, according to reports.
According to a study by Press Association Sport, Arsenal used more academy graduates in the Premier League than any other club last season.
The report claims that six Arsenal youth products managed 19.4 percent of the Gunners’ top-flight campaign last term, with Hector Bellerin, Francis Coquelin, Alex Iwobi, Damien Martinez and Ainsley Maitland-Niles contributing to that figure.
It paints the North Londoners’ youth policy in a positive light and could it hold the key to Arsene Wenger beating Tottenham Hotspur to a player?
According to The Independent, Arsenal and Tottenham are battling one another for the signing of Manchester City sensation Jadon Sancho, with the Sky Blues due as much as £4 million in compensation if he leaves.
The 17-year-old, according to the report, is keen on a move to London and is willing to snub a £30k-a-week contract offer in Eastlands due to fears that his first-team prospects are bleak under Pep Guardiola in Manchester.
If true, Sancho is clearly an ambitious lad who, rather refreshingly, wants minutes over money and both North London clubs are known for giving their youth players a shot.
Of course, Tottenham have one of the best young teams in Europe, with the likes of Dele Alli and Eric Dier becoming household names under Mauricio Pochettino.
But Wenger is also renowned for how he develops young talent and the recent study by PA Sport might help sway Sancho toward a switch to Arsenal.
If he’s snubbing Man City’s big-money offer then obviously he is acting in the best interest of his career such findings do Arsenal’s chances no harm at all.
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