Ten Hag Set to Replicate Man Utd’s RVP Masterclass with Move for ‘Special’ 5ft 5in Dynamo
Ten Hag is keeping an eye on Ethan Nwaneri for Manchester United.
The Arsenal teen’s future at the Emirates Stadium is questionable.
Manchester United are apparently interested in signing one of their Premier League opponents, with Erik ten Hag and co supposedly eyeing Arsenal’s young wonder, Ethan Nwaneri.
What’s the latest on Nwaneri’s move to Manchester United?
According to journalist David Ornstein, who writes a weekly column for The Athletic, the Red Devils are among a handful of top-flight clubs’monitoring’ the 16-year-old, along with Chelsea and Manchester City.
According to the source, with the England youth international’s schoolboy registration expiring next month, a slew of suitors are ready to pounce if the kid does not agree to new terms with the Gunners.
The London-born starlet rose to prominence after making his first-team debut for the Emirates outfit at the age of just 15 against Brentford back in September, becoming the Premier League’s youngest-ever player in the process.
Who is Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri?
That record-breaking senior debut unsurprisingly pushed young Nwaneri into the public eye, with the 5 foot 5 dynamo receiving high acclaim from senior teammate Granit Xhaka, who described him as “very, very special” and a player with a “big future.”
While Mikel Arteta’s side will be hoping for a ‘future’ in north London, it would be a real coup for United to be able to poach such a talent from one of their long-time rivals, with the promising midfielder having only recently impressed after scoring for his country in the ongoing U17 European Championship, bringing his total tally at that age group to eight goals in only 14 outings.
The small ace, who has six goals and four assists for Arsenal at youth level this season, would not be the first highly-rated talent to leave Arsenal for the Theatre of Dreams, with the playmaker potentially following in the footsteps of Robin van Persie.
Ten Hag will be hoping to duplicate the club’s masterpiece in signing his compatriot back in 2012, when Van Persie departed the Emirates for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in a £24m move.
That contentious trade, which occurred as the striker’s contract at his previous club was expiring, paid off for both the Dutchman and the Red Devils, as the ruthless marksman scored 26 league goals in his debut season in Manchester to help the team win the Premier League.
Described as “unbelievable” by Ferguson, the former Netherlands international would go on to net just 22 top-flight goals over the next two seasons before leaving for Fenerbahce, albeit with his move from the capital having undoubtedly paid off given his immediate impact.
While it may take time for Nwaneri to establish himself in United’s first-team ranks, it would definitely satisfy the Old Trafford supporters to be able to wrest another high-profile jewel from the Gunners, following the success of Van Persie.
