Arsenal could be set to lose an academy product to Newcastle United, in a bitter blow for the club's Hale End production line.
Manager Mikel Arteta has been big on integrating youth during his time as Gunners boss, initially building his side around the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe. But in recent times, academy debutants have dwindled as Arsenal have got better, with only 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri making his bow last season before Charles Sagoe Jr was handed a first start in the League Cup this term.
Much-hyped young striker Folarin Balogun had to leave for first-team opportunities over the summer, while Arteta has been reluctant to give minutes to teenagers this term, choosing to bring on Declan Rice at centre-back in a dead-rubber against PSV in the Champions League when he had Nwaneri and top prospect, Myles-Lewis Skelley available on the bench.
Now, the Standard have reported that 18-year-old wonderkid Amario Cozier-Duberry is a target for Newcastle, with Arteta yet to hand him an opportunity in the senior side.
A right-winger in the mould of Bukayo Saka, the teenager is stalling on a new contract, with his current deal expiring in the summer. Borussia Dortmund are also said to be interested, too.
With Arteta lacking a real backup for his talismanic Saka, Cozier-Duberry has been touted as the perfect option to ease into the side but thus far, the Basque boss has failed to give a debut to him, Reuell Walters or Lino Sousa, thought to be the next Hale End products ready for senior football.
Italian transfer oracle Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Dortmund are also interested in Arsenal academy prospect Chido Obi Martin.
Cozier-Duberry is worth €2 million, according to Transfermarkt.
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Arsenal are reportedly in talks over a huge summer move for Napoli and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen. The news comes after Gary Lineker suggested Osimhen would be the perfect fit.
Meanwhile, the Gunners continue to be linked with another Africa Cup of Nations star. And Mikel Arteta has reacted angrily to rumours touting him for the Barcelona manager's job.
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