- The Gunners are at risk of losing a talented academy product to Man United
- Arsenal are attempting to tie Ayden Heaven down to a new deal amid interest
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why the Arsenal players will be laughing at Mikel Arteta behind his back
Arsenal are trying to convince highly-rated centre-back Ayden Heaven to sign a new contract amid an enquiry from Manchester United.
The 18-year-old’s existing contract is currently set to expire in the summer and is attracting interest from United just months after they snatched Chido Obi-Martin from the Gunners.
Heaven has made just one competitive first-team appearance for the Gunners – a cameo against Preston in the Carabao Cup – but is touted as one of the club’s brightest academy prospects having rose through the club’s youth ranks.
However, he is currently locked in a contract standoff with Arsenal and United are keen to take advantage of the situation as they previously did with Obi-Martin.
The left-footed defender has risen through the ranks of the club’s youth system after joining as a child, but could now leave in what would be a major coup for a rival club.
Arsenal are keen to tie Heaven down to a new contract and are actively locked in negotiations with his representatives amidst fears of him being lured away by Untied.
Arsenal are trying to convince highly-rated centre-back Ayden Heaven to sign a new contract amid an enquiry from Manchester United
Heaven has made just one competitive first-team appearance for the Gunners – a cameo against Preston in the Carabao Cup
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is keen to keep the youngster at the club amid interest from rivals
Meanwhile, Old Trafford transfer chiefs are working to convince Heaven to swap allegiances with the player believed to be interested in joining the 13-time Premier League champions.
Eintracht Frankfurt also want Heaven and could offer him more immediate first-team opportunities than either Arsenal or United, but a move to Germany isn’t likely at this stage.
Mikel Arteta previously heaped praise on Heaven after he starred in a pre-season contest against United, stating at the time: ‘Very impressive. At 17, I don’t know how many players are able to do that on a stage like this.
‘He’s lost a duel against one of the strongest and fastest players in the world [Rasmus Hojlund], it can happen, but the reaction afterwards, the composure, the quality, the body language that he had were all remarkable. I’m really happy with him.’
The Gunners could also lose another two defenders in January with Borussia Dortmund expected to make another approach for Oleksandr Zinchenko after they asked about a loan earlier this month.
