Journalist Graeme Bailey has admitted that he can see Arsenal making move to sign contract rebel Carney Chukwuemeka.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, the Gunners and Barcelona are among those monitoring the 18-year-old Aston Villa starlet, with his current contract expiring next summer.
He is yet to agree to fresh terms at Villa Park despite the club’s attempts to tie down their academy graduate.
Bailey hinted that the talented teenager is seeking assurances over regular first-team football and that Villa are working on offloading Douglas Luiz as a means to please Chukwuemeka, but the insider is of the impression that Arsenal may swoop in to take advantage of the situation given his potential.
Speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast, he said: “Only 18, but a super, super talent. It’s no surprise to me to see Arsenal in for this guy.
“But would someone like Arsenal pay £20-30m? I think they probably would because he is such a huge talent.
“I think he’s one who’s really gone under the radar a little bit, but in England, within the scouting ranks, they think this guy is one of the best 18-year-olds we’ve seen in a long time.”
TIF Thoughts on Chukwuemeka and Arsenal…
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Since making his first-team debut back in May last year, the highly touted youngster has gone on to make 15 senior appearances and has been given 11 of them by current boss Steven Gerrard, who certainly seems keen to keep him at the club long-term.
The former Liverpool captain told reporters (via Express and Star) that this is the ‘best place’ for him to develop and is hoping that contract talks progress in a ‘positive’ manner.
Former Villans and Gunners ace Paul Merson has also hailed the England U19 international, saying on Sky Sports (via Birmingham Mail) after his full debut that he is ‘an absolute star’, and with such glowing reports, he could certainly be a name that Edu chooses to capitalise on and invest in.