MX23RW : Tuesday, January 28 03:10:29| >> :120:11907:11907:

Manchester United, Chelsea 'among clubs interested in Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri'

Man United, Chelsea 'among clubs interested in Ethan Nwaneri'
© Reuters
Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are reportedly looking to sign Arsenal teenager and the Premier League's youngest-ever player Ethan Nwaneri.

Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly among the clubs looking to sign Arsenal history-maker Ethan Nwaneri.

The 2007-born midfielder became the youngest-ever player in Premier League history when he came on as a substitute against Brentford aged just 15 years and 181 days.

Nwaneri broke the previous record held by Harvey Elliott, who made his top-flight debut for Fulham aged 16 years and 30 days, when he replaced Fabio Vieira in second-half injury time in that 3-0 win.

The teenager - who primarily operates as a number 10 - has also been capped by England at Under-16 and Under-17 level and has quickly risen through the youth ranks at Arsenal.

Nwaneri's historic Premier League appearance has unsurprisingly piqued the interest of other clubs, and according to The Secret Scout, as many as four teams are keen to poach him from the Emirates Stadium.

Man United and Chelsea are reported to be tracking Nwaneri's progress, while fellow Big Six sides Manchester City and Liverpool are also keen on the 15-year-old.

Chelsea dipped into Arsenal's academy ranks in the summer to sign Omari Hutchinson from their London rivals, with the Jamaica international failing to agree a new contract with the Gunners.

Meanwhile, Man City and Liverpool are both believed to have been keeping tabs on Bukayo Saka's contract situation, but the 21-year-old is now expected to commit to a new deal at the Emirates.

Nwaneri has registered four goals and four assists in nine appearances for Arsenal's Under-18s and made his debut for the Under-21s in a 4-1 Premier League 2 win over Blackburn Rovers on September 3, playing 59 minutes and setting up a goal for Charles Sagoe Jr.

After making Nwaneri the youngest player to ever play in the Premier League, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta revealed that he listened to a "gut feeling" to hand the teenager his first minutes at the top level.

"It was a pure gut feeling. I met the boy (and) really liked what I saw. Per Mertesacker and the academy staff are giving me really good information, Edu as well," Arteta told reporters at his post-game press conference.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on September 18, 2022© Reuters

"I met him, he's trained a couple of times with us. Yesterday he had to come because we have injuries, especially the injury of Martin (Odegaard), and then I had that feeling from yesterday that if the opportunity could come that I was going to do it and I just done it.

"I told him yesterday that he was going to be with us and that I want him to experience how it is to be in the hotel, to do a preparation of the game to be around the boys and that he had to be ready.

"If you're going to be on that bench you have to be ready. The boy just looks in your eyes and he's ready. I don't know what it is for him. When I met him, when I look at him, I had that feeling."

Nwaneri was also labelled a "very, very special" player by midfielder Granit Xhaka, who has been observing the midfielder in action for the Under-16s while obtaining his coaching licence.

Prior to being taken off for Nwaneri against Brentford, Vieira marked his first Premier League start with a stunning long-range goal after William Saliba and Gabriel Jesus had headed home in the first half.

The Gunners head into the international break still top of the table with 18 points from their first seven games of the season, one clear of Man City and Tottenham Hotspur.

ID:495013:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect7300:
Written by
Ben Knapton

Click here for more stories about Harvey Elliott

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Ethan Nwaneri in action for Arsenal in September 2022
Read Next:
Granit Xhaka: 'Ethan Nwaneri is a very, very special talent'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool22165154213353
2Arsenal23138244212347
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2313553327644
4Manchester CityMan City23125647301741
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle23125641271441
6Chelsea23117545301540
7Bournemouth23117541261540
8Aston Villa2310763435-137
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2381053531434
10Fulham238963431333
11Brentford2394104240231
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd2385102832-429
13Crystal Palace236982630-427
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2376102844-1627
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs2373134637924
16Everton225891928-923
17Leicester CityLeicester2345142549-2417
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2344153252-2016
19Ipswich TownIpswich2337132147-2616
20Southampton2313191653-376


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!