Teenage Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo is in positive talks with the club over a new contract extension, according to a report.

Football.London report that Arsenal youth goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo is in positive talks with the club over a new contract extension. His current deal expires this summer, and teams in France, Belgium, and Portugal have expressed interest in him.

The 19-year-old will assess his options over the coming weeks, with a potential loan move in the pipeline if he signs on – as part of Per Mertesacker’s planned pathway for him.

Okonkwo is highly rated at Arsenal, considered to be a potential future first-teamer along with fellow youth shot-stopper Karl Hein. The two of them compete for the u23 starting goalkeeper spot, and they’ve also taken it in turns to feature in the first-team squad.

Hein made the Europa League squad on seven occasions in the run to the semi-finals, whilst Okonkwo appeared three times.

But it was Okonkwo on the bench for both legs of the semi-final, and Okonkwo acting as the extra man at the weekend once again. It seems he’s currently the man in favour, which may help to convince him to sign a new deal.

Earlier reports listed six youth players for potential departures from Arsenal this summer. Of this list, Folarin Balogun has signed a new deal to end that speculation, and Okonkwo is now in positive talks.

That leaves Kido Taylor-Hart, whose situation remains unclear, Joseph Olowu, who is likely to depart on a free transfer, Ben Sheaf, who is also still likely to leave, and Zech Medley, who is out of contract this summer but may activate a one-year extension.