Arsenal are ready to strengthen their youth team structure with the transfer window open and a number of luxury new signings currently in the works.
Arsenal are preparing to sign Leicester City star Jeremy Monga
Arsenal are set to make a fresh bid for Jeremy Monga after Leicester City rejected their initial offer for the 16-year-old talent.
The Gunners will work hard to sign the talented wide prospect, who made 27 Championship appearances for the Foxes despite being relegated to League One last season.
Officials remain tight-lipped about the numbers behind Arsenal’s initial offer, but the direction is that they are confident Arsenal will try again and that the player wants to move to the Emirates Stadium, despite efforts from other Premier League clubs such as Newcastle and Brentford.
Negotiations could take place now, but any deal is likely to be put on hold until after July 10, when Monga turns 17 and his first professional contract at the King Power Stadium comes into effect.
Leicester are in no hurry to sell given the increased interest and will only make a deal if the financial valuation is satisfied.
Meanwhile, as reported by the Georgian newspaper and BBC Sport, Arsenal are in talks to sign Georgia Under-21 international Andrija Baltishvili. Arsenal’s head of recruitment Maurizio Micheli is believed to be playing a key role in the club’s push for the 17-year-old attacking midfielder amid rival interest from France and Italy’s Juventus.
Both clubs are currently in talks with Baltishvili’s agent, Giorgi Giugeli, to reach an agreement.
The diminutive and nimble Georgian can play as a No. 8, No. 10, left winger or right winger, and has impressed the Gunners with his versatility, dribbling, vision and long-range shooting ability.
Although there is no guarantee that a contract will be signed, it is a move that the club is actively considering. Baltishvili will move from Colheti 1913 to Iberia 1999 on loan until the end of 2026.
Due to Brexit rules, he will not be able to join Arsenal until his 18th birthday (March 30th).
Arsenal are tracking Georgian prodigy Andrija Baltishvili
There is a huge push within the club to improve the ranks of the Premier League champions’ youth teams, even if this requires significant investment.
Both the U21 and U18 teams had very poor seasons, while the U19 team was eliminated from the UEFA Youth League in the group stage, finishing 33rd out of 36 teams.
Even teams like Paphos FC and Kazakh underdogs FC Kairat finished above Arsenal, and academy director Per Mertesacker has since resigned from his post, ending his 15-year association with the Gunners.
The search for his successor is now in its final stages, although the Under-21s have also just lost manager Max Porter, who joined Stoke City to strengthen Mark Robins’ coaching staff. He will also have to be replaced.
Arsenal are also prepared to pounce on and sign Elijah Upson, whose Tottenham scholarship contract expires at the end of this month. There also appears to be interest from rivals.
The teenager rejected a professional contract with Spurs and his father Matthew spent six years at Arsenal, winning a Premier League winners’ medal in 2001.
Blackburn Rovers forward Igor Tyjon remains on the club’s radar after a £1 million bid was rejected in January.
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