Arsenal are hoping to loan Tim Akinola out to the Championship in January, after triggering an extension clause in the midfielder’s contract.

Tim Akinola in training with Arsenal (Photo via Akinola on Instagram)
Tim Akinola in training with Arsenal (Photo via Akinola on Instagram)

Arseblog News report that Arsenal youth midfielder Tim Akinola is set to go out on loan in the January transfer window, with a move to the Championship the most likely option.

Before that, Arsenal will trigger an extension to Akinola’s current contract. His deal expires at the end of the season as things stand, but the extension will see it run to 2023.

Akinola has improved his own situation in recent months through an upturn in form. Whilst a loan this summer would have been preferable, it wasn’t easy to achieve after the midfielder’s relatively uninspiring debut campaign for the Arsenal u23s.

It’s a lot easier to market him now, as he’s playing a lot better in a team that’s generally putting together a lot of good results.

At the start of the season, it seemed very possible Akinola might just run down his contract and leave for free in 2022. Now, a one-year extension and a loan move absolutely make sense, and a spell in the Championship would really allow the midfielder to test himself.

It’s also a great example to some of Arsenal’s other academy youngsters of how quickly things can change if you make the most of your chances.

After joining on a free transfer in the first place, Akinola has made over 30 appearances for the Arsenal u23s. He’s recently been involved in Mikel Arteta’s first-team training sessions more regularly, and everything seems to be heading in the right direction.