Arsenal transfer blow as they face losing 32-goal wonderkid to Bayern Munich for cheap fee as Germans ‘have advantage’
BAYERN MUNICH are pushing to sign Arsenal wonderkid Chido Obi-Martin this summer, according to reports.
Obi-Martin is widely considered as one of the most exciting academy prospects at the north London club.
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He turned heads after scoring 10 goals in a single game for Arsenal‘s Under-16s against Liverpool in November.
The 16-year-old made an impression once again earlier this year after scoring another SEVEN against Norwich U18s.
He ended the 2023-24 campaign with a record-breaking 32 goals in 18 Premier League 2 games.
And his outstanding form has attracted interest from elsewhere.
According to German football journalist Christian Falk, Bayern Munich are pushing to sign Obi-Martin.
Borussia Dortmund are also considering a swoop for the youngster.
Falk said: “Bayern have the advantage as the situation is a bit different in Germany compared to England – he can already sign a professional contract at 16 years of age. Bayern would only have to pay €400,000. So he’s really cheap!
“But Bayern aren’t the only club interested; there’s also Dortmund who are going for him. So it’s getting really interesting, but I heard that Bayern have a good chance of signing Obi-Martin.”
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Mikel Arteta's striker shopping list
By Jordan Davies
ARSENAL are stepping up plans to sign a world-class striker in the summer after their Champions League heartbreak.
Mikel Arteta splashed out £204.5m last summer on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
But the Spanish manager accepts he needs a proven goalscorer to take the club to the next level.
And here are the players he is looking at to get the Gunners firing:
BENJAMIN SESKO (RB Leipzig, value £40m-£45m)
One for the future at 20 years old. Scored 16 goals for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga last season and the Slovenian has carried on that good form in Germany with Leipzig this campaign.
VIKTOR GYOKERES (Sporting Lisbon, value £60m-£80m)
Been scouted several times this season. The Swedish striker, 25, is more of a traditional No 9 so may not suit Arsenal’s demand for flexibility but would bring a physicality that boss Mikel Arteta craves.
ALEXANDER ISAK (Newcastle, value £75m-£85m)
Impressed in his first two seasons in English football. The Swede, 24, has the pace and finesse to match his finishing ability, and Eddie Howe’s Toon may need to sell to balance the books this summer.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE (Bologna, value £45m-£50m)
Dutch wonder is attracting the attentions of clubs across Europe. At 6ft 4in the 22-year-old forward would have no trouble adapting to the Premier League and already has an eye for goal.
XAVI SIMONS (RB Leipzig, value £70m-£80m)
An incredible talent in the Bukayo Saka mould, currently on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. The future of the Dutch attacker, 20, depends on how much money his parent club want to make from him.
The teenager previously revealed his intention to stay at Arsenal for the foreseeable future.
Discussing his relationship with first team manager Mikel Arteta, he said: “He (Arteta) just praises me all the time and says nice things, so it’s very nice.
“Of course it makes me proud. I would like to stay at Arsenal for a long time.”
Arsenal are still understood to be pushing to keep Obi-Martin.
The Denmark U17s star has been with the Gunners since the age of 14.
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