Arsenal are hoping to secure the long-term future of Ethan Nwaneri amid the potential threat of the 18-year-old being poached.

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New Nwaneri contract in the worksArsenal keen to reward teenagerChelsea & Man City have shown interestFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal are described the as "closing in" on a new contract with Nwaneri that would run until 2030. A fresh five-year deal would reward and recognise the teenager's greater status within the first-team squad since he penned a maiden professional contract upon turning 17 last March.

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Having previously made his senior debut at the age of 15, Nwaneri was permanently promoted to the first-team squad ahead of this season alongside best friend Myles Lewis-Skelly. But it has been the injury absence of Bukayo Saka since December that has handed the youngster more consistent playing time, an opportunity he has grabbed with both hands. Arsenal are now in a position where they have an important first-team player on a contract designed for a future prospect and they unsurprisingly don't want to lose him amid previous interest from Manchester City and Chelsea.

DID YOU KNOW?

Upon making his debut in in 2022, Nwaneri became both Arsenal's youngest-ever player, lowering the mark set by Cesc Fabregas, and the youngest to feature in England's top flight – the latter record had stood since 1964. The attacker was aged just 15 years and 181 days at the time, meaning it would have to be a supremely talented prodigy – or a dire emergency – in order for someone to achieve that at a younger age.

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In addition to requiring strengthening in the transfer market ahead of next season, Arsenal also have other key contract negotiations ahead of them. Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel are three important players who will soon enter the final two years of the respective current deals.