by Lewis Ambrose

Charlton and England u19 defender Joe Gomez is expected to sign for a Premier League club this summer, with Arsenal challenging Liverpool for the teenager’s signature.

A name to remember – Joe Gomez is already making his way in professional football despite only turning 18 last month.

The Charlton centre-half can also play on the right side of the defence, featuring there and at left-back as well as in his favoured central position last season.

At the age of just 17 Gomez made 18 starts for The Addicks last season, and also featured off the bench on six occasions.

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Playing so much football in the Championship – Gomez made 16 league starts at the age of 17 last season – is a sure sign of a player going places, and Charlton seem prepared to cash in this summer.

The Daily Mail report that the London club are looking for a deal worth an initial £7M eventually rising to £9M with add-ons.

Liverpool and Manchester City are also said to be interested in the England youth international, who has represented his country at u16, u17 and u19 level.

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Arsène Wenger has a good track record with young footballers and has been happy to spend significant sums of money on teenagers with talent.

Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers – all signed from Southampton – have joined at young ages for double figure fees. Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain were even younger than Gomez when Wenger signed them, and cost more money.

The Arsenal manager also has previous with Charlton Athletic in recent years – the clubs seem to see eye-to-eye. Carl Jenkinson joined Arsenal from Charlton in the summer of 2011 and just last year Francis Coquelin was on loan with the Championship club before we recalled him.