Arsenal and Manchester United are reportedly interested in Chelsea’s Charly Musonda, with the Blues planning to open contract talks to fend them both off.

Musonda made his first start for Chelsea against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup last week, and scored his first goal that same match. Now the Evening Standard report that the Londoners are having to open contract talks with the player, to avoid losing him to another big English side.

The 20-year-old’s deal doesn’t expire until 2019, but if Musonda continues to perform as he did on his full debut then Chelsea may find it hard to fend off interest. Arsenal already have a number of talented youngsters in their ranks, however.

In my opinion, Reiss Nelson has been catching the eye the most so far this season, but Eddie Nketiah, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock, and others are all clearly held in high regard by Arsène Wenger, given the game-time he’s given them so far.

I recall all of them played a fairly large part in the Gunners’ pre-season tour, and other than Nketiah they’ve all received some competitive minutes as well already.

Bringing in a fairly expensive youth player who wants game-time when Arsenal’s squad is so big doesn’t sound very likely to me, but we’ll see.