Arsenal have now entered contract negotiations with three Hale End academy talents in a bid to keep them at the club.
Arsenal are keen to retain the services of some of their most promising youngsters.
Breaking through into Mikel Arteta’s first team squad at the Emirates Stadium is now arguably as difficult as it has ever been. With the club once again in contention for the biggest trophies the standard is incredibly high and the margin for error minute.
However, the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, and Eddie Nketiah are all established figures in the senior squad having come through the club’s academy system. There are also plans to integrate Ethan Nwaneri in the near future.
Arsenal keen to keep Reuell Walters, Karl Hein, and Amario Cozier-Duberry
Arteta will still want to make use of the pool of talented youngsters he has at his disposal, but those prospects must also be convinced that a pathway of progression and the opportunity to rise up the ranks exists for them in North London. That may be the key issue that needs to be overcome when it comes to convincing them to remain at the club.
As reported by journalist Sam Dean on X, Arsenal are now in contract “discussions” with Reuell Walters, Karl Hein, and Amario Cozier-Duberry. As things stand, this trio are all set to be come free agents in a month’s time, and will then be free to leave the club for nothing.
What is Mikel Arteta planning for trio of Arsenal youth prospects?
Walters has been expected to leave Arsenal for some time, but it seems that Arteta is set on attempting one last time to retain his services. The 19-year-old defender is hugely talented but is yet to make his senior debut for the Gunners. He has regularly trained with Arteta’s group though.
Oleksandr Zinchenko was previously amazed by how well Walters competed with Gabriel Jesus on the training pitch.
Meanwhile, Hein was the Gunners’ third-choice goalkeeper this season, behind David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale. Ramsdale is expected to leave Arsenal this summer, but it is unlikely that the 29-cap Estonia international will be bumped up the pecking order to serve as the No. 2 between the sticks at this stage.
Finally, Cozier-Duberry has been dubbed the next Saka and is certainly an exciting prospect. The England under-19 international may well have been earmarked as an option to offer back up to the 22-year-old in the first team picture next season.