Arsenal are one of the clubs with an interest in signing Reading 18-year-old Michael Olise before the EFL deadline, according to a report.

The Reading Chronicle report that Arsenal, Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers all hold an interest in signing Michael Olise before the EFL deadline day on Friday.

Two of the above clubs already made offers above £5m, but Reading turned them both down. They see the teenager as a key part of their current first-team squad and don’t want to lose him. Arsenal would need to make a larger bid to secure the player now.

Despite his age, Olise is already up to 32 senior appearances for Reading. He’s still nailing down his role in the team, playing everything from central midfield to attacking midfield to both wings.

The youngster has a goal and two assists in his five appearances this season. He has a contract with Reading until 2022, so if they don’t think he’s likely to extend, they may well consider selling him on. But they clearly want a decent fee to do so.

If they don’t get one, it makes more sense just to keep him in the starting lineup where he’s already a regular.

For the record, despite his allegiance to the French national teams, Olise came through the English academy system. So he’s homegrown, something Arsenal could do with.