Arsenal are reportedly set to open talks with academy starlet Amario Cozier-Duberry over a contract extension.
The 18-year-old is yet to make his competitive debut for the first team, but he experienced his first taste of senior football during the mid-season Dubai Super Cup last term.
Cozier-Duberry was also involved in Arsenal's pre-season preparations this summer, and he made the bench for September's EFL Cup third-round triumph over Brentford.
Alongside his fledgling senior appearances, the teenage winger - who is most comfortable on the right-hand side - has already registered one goal and two assists for the Gunners' Under-21 team in the Premier League 2 this season.
Cozier-Duberry now has eight goals and seven assists to show from 34 matches for the Under-21s, while he has scored twice in five outings for England's Under-19s since making his debut in March.
The attacker's existing deal at the Emirates Stadium expires in the summer of 2024, putting the Gunners at risk of losing their talented academy graduate for nothing at the end of the season.
© Reuters
However, the Gunners are seemingly set to avoid that scenario, as journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that the club will soon enter official talks with Cozier-Duberry to extend his contract in the coming weeks or months.
Romano states that discussions have already been held, and a plethora of Premier League and European clubs are keeping a close eye on the situation in case the 18-year-old chooses to advance his career elsewhere.
A similar situation occurred with Omari Hutchinson in the summer of 2022, as the Jamaica international rejected the chance to extend his stay in North London and joined rivals Chelsea.
It is unclear whether Cozier-Duberry intends to put pen to paper on fresh terms with Arsenal, but the Gunners have already seen a wealth of young talents commit their futures to the club since the start of last season.
Earlier this month, 17-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly signed his first professional contract with Arsenal, while Ethan Nwaneri - the Premier League's youngest-ever player - penned scholarship terms over the summer, which will be converted into a permanent deal in 2024.
First-team members Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Odegaard, Aaron Ramsdale and Reiss Nelson have also signed on the dotted line over the past 12 months, and Ben White is thought to be the next player in line for a new-and-improved deal.
Ben Knapton
