Manchester United have reportedly been in touch with Arsenal to register their interest in Ayden Heaven.
The London-born defender started his youth career with West Ham United at the age of eight, before making the move to Arsenal, and he signed scholarship terms with the Gunners in the summer of 2023.
Heaven is highly-rated at the Emirates Stadium, with the teenager training with the first-team squad during the 2023-24 campaign and again last summer, before making his first-team debut against Preston North End in the EFL Cup last October.
The defender has also been on the Arsenal bench on three occasions in the Premier League this season, including against Man United last month, but there is currently uncertainty when it comes to his future.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Man United have contacted Arsenal to discuss a move for the 18-year-old, and the Red Devils are ahead of Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt in the race for his signature.
Heaven allegedly also has a fresh contract offer on the table from the Gunners, but he is giving serious consideration to leaving Mikel Arteta's side at a vital stage of his career.
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Heaven 'could follow' Obi Martin from Arsenal to Man United
The youngster primarily operates as a centre-back, but he is also capable of featuring at left-back and in the middle of midfield, and he could potentially follow Chido Obi Martin in making the move from Arsenal to Old Trafford.
Obi Martin had an incredible 2023-24 campaign for Arsenal Under-18s, scoring 32 goals in 18 appearances, including 28 goals in his final nine appearances of the season, but he decided against signing a new deal with the Gunners.
A number of clubs are believed to have been in the running for his signature, but Man United secured the services of the Denmark Under-18s international, who famously scored 10 times for Arsenal Under-16s in a single match against Liverpool Under-16s.
Obi Martin has been in excellent form for Man United Under-18s since his arrival, scoring nine times and registering one assist in seven appearances, and he is thought to be firmly in the thoughts of first-team head coach Ruben Amorim.
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Could Obi Martin soon make first-team debut for Man United?
The forward has five goals in five Under-18s Premier League appearances this season, while he has struck four times in two outings in the FA Youth Cup.
Obi Martin's numbers are difficult to ignore, and considering Man United's issues in the final third of the field, it would not be a surprise to see him debut for the first team before the end of the campaign.
Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund are sharing the starting centre-forward spot at this moment in time, and the Red Devils are expected to move for a new number nine during this summer's transfer window.
However, Obi Martin could star for the Man United first team in the years to come.
Matt Law
