Several clubs alerted as ‘excellent’ Arsenal youngster tells Mikel Arteta he wants January transfer

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Arsenal continue to produce some of the country’s most talented players, although they’re struggling to create a pathway for some of them.

The Gunners are competing for both the Premier League and the Champions League, and thus blooding youngsters is certainly difficult.

Myles Lewis-Skelly has broken into Arsenal’s first team this season, while Ethan Nwaneri has also forged a consistent place in Mikel Arteta’s squad.

However, aside from these two, opportunities have been few and far between for Hale End academy graduates.

Maldini Kacurri wants to leave Arsenal on loan in this window

With Arsenal stacked with options in defensive areas, defenders within the club’s academy aren’t getting much of a look in.

Ayden Heaven is a target for Manchester United, and he may not be the only Gunners’ centre-back on the move this month.

Albanian defender Maldini Kacurri has told Arsenal.com that he intends to find a loan move before the transfer window slams shut on February 3rd.

Kacurri has been named on Arsenal’s first team bench several times this season, and was granted his senior debut as a substitute in the EFL Cup against Bolton back in September.

The club’s under-21 coach, Mehmet Ali, described the 19-year-old as ‘excellent’ back in 2022 (via Arsenal Youth) and he appears to have gone from strength to strength in youth football since then.

Kacurri produced an exceptional performance for the Arsenal under-21s on Friday night against Nottingham Forest, winning a penalty in the game courtesy of a driving run from defence.

The Albania youth international is attracting interest from a host of English clubs, including the likes of Hull City, Oxford United and Bolton Wanderers, according to Markaj News on X.

Given he has the likes of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori ahead of him in the pecking order, a temporary departure from N5 could be hugely beneficial for his development.

• READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Arsenal wonderkid Maldini Kacurri including age, height and stats

Arsenal should also loan Josh Nichols

Heaven and Kacurri aren’t the only talented defenders emerging from Hale End right now.

Right-back Josh Nichols impressed for the Gunners in his only senior appearance against Bolton earlier this campaign and has also been involved in matchday squads in the Premier League and Champions League.

Composed on the ball and technically astute, Nichols has a slight frame and needs to play men’s football frequently to develop the physical side of his game.

A loan to a Championship or League One outfit could certainly help him improve in this aspect, and given his impressive outings in pre-season and for the Arsenal academy, there should be no shortage of suitors.

With Takehiro Tomiyasu perennially injured, a successful temporary spell away from North London could result in Nichols forging a squad role in Arteta’s team next season.