Man Utd make contact with Arsenal to sign ‘very impressive’ teenage star
Manchester United have made contact with Arsenal to sign their ‘very impressive’ teenage defender Ayden Heaven, according to reports.
German side Eintracht Frankfurt and La Liga giants Barcelona have made approaches but it is United who are currently leading the race in January.
That’s according to football transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who also states that Arsenal have offered a new deal to Heaven to try and convince him to stay at the Emirates.
Heaven, originally a West Ham youth player, left east London in 2019 to join Arsenal’s Hale End academy and made his first-team debut this term.
It came in Arsenal’s 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Preston in October, with Heaven still waiting to make his first appearance in the Premier League for the Gunners.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is a huge fan of Heaven and lauded him in pre-season after he started in a 2-1 win over United in California.
Heaven played for 45 minutes and was tasked with keeping Rasmus Hojlund quiet during the friendly at the SoFi Stadium.
‘Very impressive,’ Arteta said about Heaven’s performance. ‘I don’t know how many players are able to do that on a stage like this [at his age].
‘He’s lost a duel against one of the strongest and fastest players in the world, it can happen.
‘But the reaction afterwards, the composure, the quality, the body language that he had were all remarkable. I’m really happy with him.’
Heaven has played for both England U18s and England U19s at youth level, with two caps for the latter age group to date.
The 18-year-old has been included in three Premier League matchday squads for Arsenal so far this season, but hasn’t made it off the bench just yet.
Heaven, who mainly features as a centre-back, can also play at left-back as well as in central midfield.
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