Arsenal make contract offer to Leicester City player

Arsenal have made an offer to the camp of Leicester City youngster Jeremy Monga, holding talks around his potential first-team pathway if he joins.

Football insider Hand of Arsenal reports that Arsenal have made a ‘compelling’ offer to the camp of 16-year-old Jeremy Monga of Leicester City, having discussions around the player’s first-team pathway if he signs.

If Monga accepts the offer, the Gunners would still need to agree a compensation fee with Leicester, but Arsenal seem to be the favourites for the signing at the moment.

Sam Wallace and Sam Dean had broken the news for The Telegraph in April that Arsenal were showing strong interest in Monga, hoping to steal him away for his first professional contract.

The winger had previously agreed to sign a professional contract with Leicester when he turns 17 in July, but The Telegraph reported that the agreement doesn’t guarantee he won’t leave anyway.

Yet the report also added that Leicester were hoping to rebuild around their talented youngsters, with Monga foremost among them. Arsenal will need to convince the player that he’s better off leaving, and the club that they’re getting fair compensation.

What will help Arsenal’s case is that Leicester have been relegated to League One. It’s going to be harder for the Foxes to convince their young talents to stick around, and the chance to leap up two divisions will probably prove an appealing one.

The timing of Arsenal’s offer to Monga is unsurprising, with the Gunners waiting until Leicester’s season was over and avoiding any potential accusations of unsettling the player during a relegation scrap.

Monga made 10 starts for Leicester in all competitions this season, scoring one goal and assisting two more. He’s also an England u19 international, making 10 appearances for the side this season and playing alongside Max Dowman on a couple of occasions.

• Arsenal star’s injury ends World Cup and doctor sacked
  Jurrien Timber has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad with a groin injury, with Lutsharel Geertruida called up in his place.
• FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifying leaves several Arsenal stars waiting
  Arsenal are set for a strong 2027 Women’s World Cup presence, with several players qualified and others facing play-offs or key final games.
• Hated ex-Arsenal star sacked
  Feyenoord have confirmed Robin van Persie will leave after an internal review, despite securing second place and Champions League qualification.
• Will Arsenal buy Eli Junior Kroupi?
  Arsenal like Junior Kroupi, but Bournemouth’s stance, his comments and a £100m-plus valuation make a summer deal look unlikely.
• Arsenal star named vice captain of England
  The England manager says Rice is part of his core group, with Arsenal’s four internationals now in camp before the final World Cup warm-up match against Costa Rica. Declan Rice has been named England vice-captain by Thomas Tuchel, with the Arsenal midfielder now only behind Harry Kane in the national team’s leadership group. The decision…