Tottenham are on the verge of completing an audacious move to poach highly-rated Arsenal youngster Kyran Thompson. The 16-year-old winger joined the Gunners from West Ham two years ago and was considered the next gem from the Hale End Academy production line.
Thompson's Rapid Rise at Arsenal
Thompson has made rapid progress through the ranks, already making his Under-21 debut in Premier League 2. Arsenal had hoped to tie him down to a new contract, but his current scholarship terms expire in just over a week.
With little progress on a new deal, rival clubs have begun circling. Manchester City previously attempted to sign Thompson when he left West Ham in a £1.1 million deal and, according to the Daily Mail, have revived their interest.
Spurs Emerge as Frontrunners
Tottenham have emerged as the leading contenders to sign Thompson and are growing increasingly confident of winning the race. Arsenal had earmarked Thompson for a bright future, with the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and Max Dowman making first-team impressions over the last 18 months under Mikel Arteta.
Arteta has shown a willingness to give young players chances, with Marli Salmon and Jaden Dixon also making senior debuts last season. Thompson was expected to follow suit in the coming years.
Competition for Places at Arsenal
However, competition for attacking places at Arsenal is intense. Leicester City's Jeremy Monga, who plays in a similar position to Thompson, is on the verge of agreeing a move to the Premier League champions.
Behind the scenes, Arsenal are still settling on a replacement for Per Mertesacker, who served as academy director for Arteta's entire managerial reign but departed at the end of last season.
