Although they are yet to achieve great success, Arsenal have done a lot of things right in recent years.
The club has transformed itself, from supporting Mikel Arteta through tough times to getting rid of players who weren’t performing and bringing in players who were.
But Hale End continues to produce sensational talent, and it’s not just the senior setup that has been successful.
Max Daumann is one of the most exciting young players to come out of the academy in recent memory, and now Arsenal appear to be preparing to sign a teenage prodigy who could be another version of the 16-year-old.
Arsenal eyeing another Dauman
In recent years, Hale End has produced more than its fair share of incredibly exciting homegrown talent for Arsenal, from Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe at the start of the decade, to Ethan Nwaneri and Miles Lewis-Skelly last season.
The likes of Mari Salmon and Andre Harriman-Anous have been given first-team chances this year, but Dauman is the most promising of the academy players.
The young Englishman had a fantastic pre-season, becoming the club’s youngest ever starter and the youngest player in Champions League history before he was injured in a recent behind-closed-doors friendly.
In other words, the 16-year-old is an extraordinary talent and it now appears the Gunners are determined to sign someone who could be considered another club version of a Dowman.
At least that’s according to a recent report from Arsenal club insiders Hand of Arsenal, who claim that Arsenal are “looking to sign the highly talented Igor Tyjon from Blackburn Rovers”.
The report claims the club tried to sign the teenage sensation last year but received two offers, one worth £2.2 million, which the Lancashire club rejected.
The good news for the Gunners is that the North Londoner is currently ‘leading the race’, with him potentially available for just £1m this month after rejecting several new offers from Blackburn.
It wouldn’t be a deal that would impact today’s first teams, but nevertheless, given his potential and what officials are saying about him, Arsenal should do everything they can to sign Taijohn, as he could be another down man.
Why Tyjon could be another Dowman
Well, there are a lot of exciting young talents in today’s game, but it’s safe to say that few have as much hype behind them as Dauman.
After all, he has already broken club and UCL records, so you have to be pretty special to be compared to him.
Fortunately, Taijong certainly seems like a very special player.
For example, in September 2024, respected talent scout Jacek Kulig boldly declared the teenage Blackburn “the most talented academy player since Adam Wharton”.
But more than that, he declared the forward “the future of English or Polish football” due to his great ability and the chance to play for either country.
It’s not hard to see why Kulig would say this, as the Southport-born poacher has impressed in both youth teams and currently has three goals and one assist in just five appearances for the Three Lions’ under-18s.
He also made an impact in Rovers’ youth teams, scoring nine goals and providing one assist in 22 appearances for the Under-21s and making three appearances for the first team.
Tyjon’s U21 record | |
|---|---|
Appearance | twenty two |
begins | 16 |
minutes | 1437 minutes |
the goal | 9 |
assist | 1 |
Number of goals involved per match | 0.45 |
Hours per goal involvement | 143.7′ |
All stats via Transfermarkt | |
But it’s not just his performances that are impressive, as under-23 scout Antonio Mango points out that he has “great movement and is good at connecting plays.”
Additionally, he passed the eye test, and Mango praised his “creative talent.”
At the end of the day, this is not a transfer that will affect the title race, but Arsenal should do everything they can to sign Taijohn, who has the potential to become a star like Dauman in the future.
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