Arsenal are at “serious risk” of losing Ethan Nwaneri to one of their big-six rivals, according to a report.
Sam Dean of The Telegraph reports that Arsenal are at risk of losing Ethan Nwaneri, with Chelsea and Manchester City tracking him ahead of the summer.
The midfielder is reportedly the subject of significant interest from the two clubs, though Arsenal haven’t given up hope of keeping him.
Nwaneri is part of Jack Wilshere’s u18 side making a run in the FA Youth Cup, with the young Gunners set to play Manchester City in the semi-final at the Emirates Stadium in early April.
But whilst other top stars like Amario Cozier-Duberry and Myles Lewis-Skelly have either already signed a long-term contract or come to an agreement to sign one, Nwaneri’s contract situation remains outstanding.
If Arsenal don’t reach an agreement with the 15-year-old before the summer, he’ll be free to move to another club for no more than a training compensation fee.
The Gunners have done a lot to make the club an attractive place to stay for the youngster.
They made him the Premier League’s youngest-ever player, they’ve given him regular u21 appearances in 2023, and Wilshere handed him a start at the Emirates Stadium for the Youth Cup quarter-final last month.
At his age, it’s very hard to see how Nwaneri could ask for more. No club in the country is giving first-team starts to 15-year-olds, and even a regular u21 spot is a rarity.
With Bukayo Saka, Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, and Eddie Nketiah showing the pathway from the academy to the first team at Arsenal, it’s up to the youngster himself if he wants to try and follow that pathway.
The alternative is to join the congested multi-billion pound squads at Chelsea and City, hoping for the best.