Arsenal have held talks with Reuell Walters over a new contract, as the youth defender edges closer to a first-team debut.

The Evening Standard report that Arsenal have held contract talks with 18-year-old Reuell Walters, who is attracting interest from other Premier League clubs and sides in Europe.

Walters is reportedly happy at Arsenal, but various clubs are hoping to tempt him away with the offer of more regular game time.

The Standard claim Arsenal are likely to avoid loaning Walters out in January, given their current defensive injuries, but they’ll have to agree an extension with him if they want to avoid losing him for no more than a compensation payment in the summer.

Walters’ current deal with Arsenal reportedly expires in 2024.

Walters has only signed one professional contract with Arsenal so far, putting pen to paper on new terms in February 2022.

A player’s first professional deal cannot last longer than three seasons, meaning the maximum length of Walters’ deal would have been for the remainder of 2021/22, the 2022/23 season, and the current campaign.

This time around, there would be no limits on Walters’ new contract, so Arsenal could sign him up to a five-year deal if they wished to.

In the meantime, the defender is pushing to make his first-team debut for Arsenal.

The youngster has made Mikel Arteta’s squads on 14 occasions now, including for both Premier League fixtures last week, but he’s yet to get onto the pitch.

Walters has featured a couple of times for Arteta in pre-season friendlies, but not in a competitive game so far.