Arsenal’s first bid for Leicester youngster Jeremy Monga has been turned down but they are confident of signing the teenager.
Monga has already amassed 37 appearances for the Foxes before his 17th birthday to catch the attention of the football world, and became the youngest ever scorer in the Championship last August.
However, Leicester’s relegation to League One has forced the Midlands club to sell key assets and although Arsenal’s opening bid for Monga this week was rejected, an agreement is expected to be reached for the 16-year-old to move to north London.
After Monga made his Foxes debut at the age of 15 last April in a Premier League defeat to Newcastle, he went on to make 30 appearances for Leicester during a difficult 2025-26 campaign.
Part of the England Under-19 set-up, Monga remains on scholarship terms with the King Power Stadium club and is set to finalise a transfer to Arsenal by the time he turns 17 on July 10.
Another young England talent on Arsenal’s shortlist this summer is centre-back Elijah Upson, who will leave Tottenham this month after he turned down a professional deal.
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Centre-back Upson, who is the son of former England international Matthew Upson, played six times for Spurs in the UEFA Youth League and was captain on multiple occasions for the Under-18s, but will move on when his contract expires on June 30.
Upson could follow in the footsteps of his father by signing for Arsenal.
Arteta convinces Arsenal to move for Brentford star
The Gunners are also eyeing more immediate improvements to their first-team after coming up just short of a historic Premier League and Champions League double.
According to reports in Brazil, via Sport Witness, Mikel Arteta has finally convinced the Gunners to make a move for Brentford star Igor Thiago.
The report claims the Spaniard has been tracking Thiago for years, and sporting director Andrea Berta is now in agreement that a Premier League proven striker should be signed this summer.
Thiago joined Brentford in the summer of 2024 but made just one league start in his first season due to injury before exploding into life last season.
The Brazil international, who is still just 24 years of age, played all 38 matches for the Bees and scored 22 times.
“Not bad, is it? I thought the finishes today were outstanding, really clinical, outstanding, calm, confident,” manager Keith Andrews said after a hat-trick against Everton.
“A little bit mad he hasn’t scored in a few weeks, but two games ago we played against Bournemouth and he was the basis for us winning the game.
“The names you’ve just mentioned (Haaland, Mbappe, Kane) – he’s in pretty esteemed company there, but he’s earned it.”
Arsenal expected to move for ‘special’ Tottenham gem who’s decided to quit
Mikel Arteta’s side could take advantage.
While Thiago may not be in the category of Erling Haaland just yet, he only finished five goals behind the Norwegian in the golden boot race, and his brute force and physicality would certainly add a different element to Arteta’s attacking ranks.
