Arsenal will take former Queens Park Rangers teenager Kayden Harrack on trial next week, with West Ham United also in the race for the youngster.

Kayden Harrack with Queens Park Rangers (Photo via Harrack on Instagram)
Kayden Harrack with Queens Park Rangers (Photo via Harrack on Instagram)

Jeorge Bird reports for Arsenal Youth that the Gunners will assess Kayden Harrack on trial next week. Arsenal are one of a couple of clubs assessing the former Queens Park Rangers 16-year-old, with West Ham United also in the mix.

Harrack can play at centre-back or in midfield. It’s probably more likely he would feature in midfield at Arsenal, given the options the academy already have at the back, plus the impending addition of Jonathan Dinzeyi from Spurs.

Even then, Arsenal’s u16s last season were one of their strongest youth age groups across multiple positions. Like Harrack, many of those players will be competing for u18 places in 2020/21, so the former QPR man will need to make a big impression on trial.

But that’s exactly what these trial periods are about. A chance to get a good look at a player alongside your current options so you can assess whether they’re really worth the investment.

It seems unlikely Arsenal would’ve brought in George Lewis based solely on his senior appearances in the lower leagues in Norway. Yet it was enough to earn him a trial, and then he convinced them he was worth a contract. Perhaps Harrack can do the same.