Manchester City have made a major move to take over the contract of Arsenal and Leicester City teenager Jeremy Monga, with negotiations between the clubs currently underway.
According to Fabrizio Romano, City started their raid earlier today and are currently actively pursuing the 16-year-old forward.
Arsenal have strong links with Monga and were previously seen as the club with the biggest push, but Romano says the Gunners are now firmly out of contention.
Man City are the club driving this move. City are confident of overtaking Arsenal in the race to sign the best young player in English football.
Monga’s takeover signals Manchester City’s long-term plans
City’s interest in Monga is not sudden.
They have long admired the Leicester forward and decided to make a move before their Premier League rivals finalized a deal.
Monga is only 16 years old but has already made a strong impression at senior level.
He joined Leicester’s first team at a very young age and is regarded as one of the most exciting attacking players in the country.
The newspaper previously reported that Arsenal were looking to structure a deal for the player, with Leicester expected to receive a significant fee and the possibility of sale protection.
For Citi, this is exactly the kind of market movement they like. We sign talented young talent early, place them in top-level development structures, and give them a path to our academy and loan system.
Arsenal’s loss could be damaging in the future
It was a disappointing blow for Arsenal. They have clearly done a lot of groundwork and losing a highly rated teenager to Man City is never ideal.
Monga is not a player who will instantly change Arsenal’s first team, but these signings are important.
Top clubs are now competing to sign players before they become stars, rather than after they become stars.
For City, this could be another investment in a smart youngster. For Arsenal, this is a reminder that hesitation can be costly as City enter the race.
If Monga develops as expected, this hijacking could look like a very clever business in a few years.
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