Arsenal are set for a tweak in transfer policy, as Edu Gaspar aims to improve the quality of youth recruitment at the club.
Arsenal’s first-team recruitment under Edu and Mikel Arteta has been exceptional, with the pair building a young squad capable of challenging for major honours.
However, Arteta received some criticism for failing to hand youth players opportunities, with midfielder Ethan Nwaneri and winger Charles Sagoe-Jr the only Hale End starlets to feature in the first-team this season.
Arteta did hit back at his critics by claiming that the academy stars were not yet at the required level for his team, and Arsenal plan on improving this in the long term by striving to recruit the best young talent to join Hale End.
It now appears that one teenage sensation is being eyed up by Edu as the first of many young signings to blend into the academy under Per Mertesacker.
Arsenal interested in Irish teenager Mason Melia
A report from The Standard has now revealed that Arsenal are among a long list of clubs interested in Irish teenage sensation Mason Melia.
Melia is a 16-year-old striker who is already playing at first-team level for St Patrick’s Athletic in the League of Ireland Premier Division. He has scored six goals and provided two assists in 33 games.
A lot of other clubs, including Manchester City and Brighton are also keen on the attacker, who cannot move until he turns 18, but Arsenal have been heavily scouting him for over a year.
If Arsenal do sign him, with the player staying in Ireland until he turns 18, he would still be expected to join the academy, and would be an example of the club signing a young talent thriving in the first-team elsewhere to then continue his development at youth level.
Who is Arsenal target Mason Melia?
Born in Kilcoole in Ireland, Melia is a right-footed centre-forward who is rated highly by St Patrick’s FC.
After he made his first-team debut as a 15-year-old, his manager at the time Jon Daly praised his talent and potential to become a striker.
“He’s been exceptional for Sean (O’Connor’s) team at U-19s,” he stated after Melia made his debut.
“When you are thinking ‘I need a goal’, I saw him score numerous goals for the U-19s, I saw him score against Wexford in the Leinster Senior Cup. I know he can finish and I know his movement is good.”
Melia now appears regularly in the first team despite his age, and it is clear that he is rated as one of the best young talents in the country.
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Arsenal would face a lot of competition for his signature, but if they can secure his future move, it would be a step in the right direction with regard to the new transfer policy.