Arsenal are confident Ethan Nwaneri will snub interest from Chelsea and sign a new contract at the club, despite some uncertainty over the teenager’s future.
The 18-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Gunners last time round, making 37 appearances in all competitions and scoring nine goals.
As injuries to the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard frustrated Arsenal at times last season, the youngster stepped forward and impressed as he became a regular member of the first team.
However, his contract at the Emirates only runs until next summer and he has been linked with a shock exit from the club he joined at just eight years old.
Chelsea are interested in the England Under-21 star and the prospect of a controversial move across London looked very real.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal are now confident that Nwaneri will sign a new contract and stay with them after fresh talks with his agent and family this week.
The negotiations saw the club selling Mikel Arteta’s project and vision to the teenager’s camp and making it clear that he can expect game time under the Spaniard.
Clearly any contract negotiations will involved finances as well, with the youngster warranting significantly higher wages in his next deal.
There have reportedly been ‘difficult’ moments in the negotiations, with Chelsea ready to pounce and make an offer, but Arsenal are now optimistic that a contract extension will be agreed.
One concern for Nwaneri will have been the Arsenal interest in Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, who is expected to complete a £52m move across London in the near future.
The arrival of the England international will add more competition for places in Arsenal’s forward line, as would the signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace and Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting, if those deals are completed as the Gunners want them to be.
There is also expected to be at least one exit as well, though, with Leandro Trossard available for sale to make room for the new arrivals.
The Gunners are open to letting the 30-year-old leave, with The Times reporting that Fenerbahce have already agreed personal terms with the 30-year-old and will now negotiate a transfer fee with Arsenal.
Trossard was signed for £27m from Brighton in January 2023 and has scored 28 goals in 124 appearances for the Gunners, turning out 56 times in all competitions over the last campaign.
The Belgian’s contract expires next year and Arsenal are hoping to get around £20m for his signature this summer.
It is an extremely busy transfer window at the Emirates, with Madueke set to become Arsenal’s fourth signing of the summer with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi already joining the club.
The pursuit of Gyokeres is proving to be the longest-running saga of the summer so far, with Sporting president Frederico Varandas is demanding €70million (£60.2m) up front plus €10m (£8.64m) in add-ons.
The Swedish striker has refused to return to the club before a deal is done, feeling that Sporting have reneged on an agreement to sell him for less than the fee they are now asking for.
The club president has responded angrily, slamming Gyokeres and anyone trying to force through the deal while the forward is effectively on strike.
‘If the geniuses who are devising this strategy think this puts pressure on me to facilitate an exit, they are not only completely wrong but are also making the player’s exit conditions even more complicated,’ Varandas said.
‘No one is above the interests of the club, whoever they are.
‘We are calm about all this. Everything can be resolved with a market closure, a heavy fine, and an apology to the group.’
