Arsenal Submit Official Bid For Wonderkid

Arsenal have placed an official bid to sign wonderkid Jeremy Monga from Leicester City, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The Gunners have been linked with a move for the 16-year-old for some time now, with reports of an offer emerging as early as last month.

Monga, who has been compared to Ousmane Dembele and described as a 'deadly' finisher, is expected to leave the Foxes this summer following their relegation to League One, despite having broken into the first-team as a 15-year-old.

And Arsenal have shown the keenest interest in him, with talks progressing over the last few weeks between the Gunners and his representatives over a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Now, according to Romano, Arsenal have lodged an official bid to sign the 16-year-old winger. He tweeted: "Arsenal sent official bid to Leicester City to get Jeremy Monga deal done. 16-year-old winger keen on joining #AFC and deal moving quickly now with optimism to sign #LCFC talent, seen as huge prospect for the future."

Arsenal are looking to improve their squad this summer as they look to build on winning their first Premier League title in 22 years with a number of incomings and outgoings expected.

The Gunners are in the market for reinforcements in attack, with question marks over the future of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli on the left-hand side of their frontline. Monga is a left winger by trade, although he is unlikely to go straight into the Premier League champions' first-team squad.

He does, however, have top flight experience already under his belt, albeit just seven matches. The 16-year-old is the third-youngest player ever to feature in the Premier League, after coming on as a substitute in Leicester’s 3-0 defeat to Newcastle last April. He would go on to play six more times for the Foxes in the top flight before they were relegated.

Arsenal have form when it comes to handing young players their chance, with Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri the only players to make a top flight appearance at a younger age than Monga.

The situation with the teenager is complicated, with Premier League rules stating you cannot sign your first professional contract until the age of 17. Monga turns 17 next month, but has already penned a deal with the Foxes, ahead of time, to guard against being poached by other clubs.

As such, Arsenal have had to prepare a bid to sign him from the Foxes, who will be playing in League One next season following their relegation from the Championship. That made it back-to-back relegations for Leicester, ten years on from their historic Premier League title win.

Arsenal are in the market for a new midfielder.