Arsenal hijack title rivals' bid to sign League Two striker prospect

Arsenal are working on a deal to sign striker prospect Will Wright from Salford City, according to James McNicholas of the Athletic.

The Gunners' title rivals Liverpool had been pursuing a move for the youngster, but have since ended their interest due to Mikel Arteta's side's own chase intensifying.

The deal comes as part of academy manager Per Mertesacker's attempts to recruit elite talent for the club's youth teams, which Arsenal are backing with a dedicated budget.

Arsenal working on deal for Will Wright

At just 17-years-old, Wright has already shown his brilliance, having been a prolific goalscorer for Salford's youth sides and B team. He made his debut for the senior side in January and has appeared four times, twice playing in League Two.

If Arsenal strike a deal for Wright, it's expected he would play for both the Under-18 and Under-21 sides and could also appear for the Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League.

Given his elite performances at youth level, he would bring plenty of experience to the Gunners' academy sides and should be a great addition as part of Mertesacker's bid to improve Hale End.

It's great to see that Arsenal are willing to provide the German with a suitable budget to strengthen the academy. The Gunners have had a number of prospects break through from the youth sides into the first team in recent years and they will want to keep Hale End well stocked over the coming seasons. They have already eyed up a move for Blackburn Rovers' young star Igor Tyjon.

With his experience of both senior and youth football, Wright will be a brilliant addition to the sides, especially with his ability to play at both age levels.

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