Arsenal are aiming to recruit quality to boost the Hale End academy sides in an internal revamp, and they are already making moves.
Per Mertesacker and Edu Gaspar are eyeing up top-quality young talents to join the Hale End Academy to boost the overall quality, and help produce more players who could join Mikel Arteta’s first team in the long run.
Goalkeeper Lucas Martin-Nygaard recently joined Arsenal, whilst Irish teenager Ceadach O’Neill also arrived as a top young prospect.
Arsenal have been scouting divisions across the UK as they aim to recruit youngsters despite the difficulty imposed by Brexit regulations in terms of signing from Europe, and St Johnstone defender Callan Hamill recently trained in North London. There is also another teenager hoping to impress on trial at Hale End.
Northern Irish sensation Coran Madden is on trial with Arsenal
Northern Irish side Cliftonville FDC have now confirmed that their 15-year-old sensation Coran Madden is currently on trial with Arsenal.
“Best of luck to Coran Madden who will spend this week on trial with Arsenal Football Club,” they posted on X.
Madden is an attacking player who is highly rated in Northern Ireland, with one of his youth coaches even labelling him as the best talent in the entire country.
“Coran is just 14 and he is an exceptional talent. He can play 10, left-wing, right-wing – basically anywhere across the front,” Cliftonville youth coach Marc Smyth told Belfast Live last year.
“He is the best young talent in the country. He recently won player of the tournament at this summer’s SuperCupNI, playing for County Antrim.”
“Coran has been with us since he was six years old and he is just a wonderful talent. And now there is a host of clubs after him.
“Every Premier League club has asked about him, but with the new rules a young player can only choose two clubs each year. So Coran has chosen Manchester United and Newcastle United.
“We also had interest from Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton and other clubs like Southampton and Leicester City. He is such a gifted player.
“He is also the most humble kid you’ll ever meet. He is nice, hard-working, all the attributes you want off the pitch.”
Coran Madden could be Arsenal’s next Gabriel Martinelli
Madden spent some time at Manchester United and Newcastle United last year on trial, but is now with Arsenal ahead of a potential move.
This could see Arsenal repeat their transfer masterstroke which saw Gabriel Martinelli arrive in 2019. Martinelli had trials at Man United but was not signed, and he returned to Ituano before Arsenal picked him up.
United’s loss was Arsenal’s gain, as Martinelli evolved into a crucial player under Arteta. If Madden does end up joining Arsenal and becomes a first-team star, there may be a similar level of regret at Old Trafford that they did not spot his potential.
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