Arsenal academy captain now being targeted by EFL strugglers in deadline day move

Add as preferred source on Google

Several Arsenal academy stars could end up leaving the club before tonight’s transfer deadline, and Zane Monlouis is one who looks set to move.

The centre-back has made 52 appearances for the Arsenal under-23 side, and is an important player within the academy, as he has also captained his team on a regular basis.

Monlouis has made 10 appearances in Premier League 2 this season and has captained the side on eight of those occasions, with the recently departed Lino Sousa wearing the armband once, and Reuell Walters also leading the team out once.

With Sousa gone, and Walters seemingly set to stay, it now seems that Monlouis is set to move on loan in this window.

Reading target Zane Monlouis for loan deal

League One strugglers Reading have now targeted the 20-year-old for a loan deal in the final hours of this transfer window.

Journalist Sami Mokbel has now revealed that talks are “underway” between Arsenal and Reading over the defender, in a deal which looks set to be a loan rather than permanent move.

This comes after the departures of Sousa, Omar Rekik, Runar Alex Runarsson and the potential exit of Miguel Azeez within the last day, as Arsenal make decisions on several of their young and fringe players.

Monlouis far down Arsenal pecking order

Despite featuring regularly for the academy sides, Monlouis looks far away from the first team given that Sousa and Walters were seemingly preferred for matchday squads by Mikel Arteta.

The move has been described as “long overdue” by academy expert Jeorge Bird, who has also highlighted that Monlouis has “good technical ability.”

Given that his path to the first team is seemingly blocked for now, a loan makes perfect sense. He will gain experience at a senior level at Reading, and this will give him the best chance of a career at Arsenal or a sale elsewhere.