Arsenal are eyeing up Reading’s academy manager Lee Herron to work with Per Mertesacker in their new youth setup next season.

Metro write that the Gunners have been impressed by the job Herron has done at Reading, particularly with a number of his players making it into the England youth teams, and they want to bring the youth boss to North London as a result.

Per Mertesacker has already been confirmed as the new Head of Academy, so presumably Herron would either be working alongside the Germanas an assistant.

Arsenal staff got to see the Reading u23s first-hand in a recent 0-0 draw between the two teams in the Premier League International Cup.

Reading are fighting for promotion to the top tier of u23 football domestically, sitting a few points off Middlesbrough u23s at the top of the Premier League 2 second tier.

The Gunners have a number of promising players coming through, such as Reiss Nelson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock among others. Getting the best out of the youngsters could be the key to Arsenal success over the next few years.