Arsenal are likely to be busy in the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta and Edu look to add the finishing touches to their squad.
But while first-team ready reinforcements are a must for any club wanting to challenge for trophies, it’s important to be active in the youth transfer market too.
Arsenal‘s Hale End setup has provided numerous success stories in recent years, such as Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson.
There are also plenty of top talents currently plying their trade at Under-18 and Under-21 level who could well make the leap to the first-team in the coming years.
Players such as Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Reuell Walters and Chido Obi all look like they could make the step up over the next season or two.
Now, Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update claiming Arsenal are leading the race to bring an England youth international from Chelsea to Hale End.
The player in question is Ryan McAidoo, a midfielder who has already been playing for the Blues’ Under-18s at the age of 15.
“Arsenal made proposal and they are currently leading the race to sign Ryan McAidoo, 2008 born talented forward,” Romano wrote on X.
“He’s expected to leave Chelsea this summer; best project proposal so far came from Arsenal. McAidoo played for England U16 and U17 this season.”
When you’ve got a player who’s turning out for a team several years above his current age, as McAidoo is currently doing with the Under-18s, that suggests he’s got a bright future ahead.
Based on Romano’s post, Arsenal look like they’re on the right track towards signing McAidoo. If he does join the Gunners, it’ll be exciting to see how he fares for their academy sides.
Arsenal have a solid pathway towards the first team, so it’s not surprising to see players seriously considering the Gunners as a place to join, even from other big clubs like Chelsea.