Arsenal Pursue Winger James Scanlon from Manchester United Academy

Arsenal are preparing another raid on Manchester United’s academy as they step up their pursuit of winger James Scanlon, fresh from agreeing a deal for right-back Habeeb Ogunneye.

The push is deliberate. Arsenal have sharpened their focus on youth recruitment, and 19-year-old Scanlon has quickly moved to the top of their list. Born in Leicester but already a full international with Gibraltar, the teenager has 24 senior caps and spent the second half of last season on loan at Swindon Town in League Two, where he picked up valuable first-team minutes.

Arsenal do not expect personal terms to be a stumbling block. Scanlon is understood to be keen on a switch to north London, and there is growing confidence at the club that his side of the deal will fall into place smoothly. The real work lies with United, as talks continue over a fee. The Gunners want the negotiations to accelerate and believe the next 72 hours could be decisive.

Two influential figures inside Arsenal are driving the chase. Chris Perkins, who arrived at the club in 2023 as a professional development phase scout, has tracked Scanlon’s progress for years. During his six-year spell as head of academy recruitment at Derby County, Perkins watched the winger come through the age groups and became a long-term admirer of his game.

The other key voice belongs to David Horseman. Appointed earlier this week as the new head coach of Arsenal’s Under-21s, Horseman has strongly recommended Scanlon to the club’s hierarchy. He joined Arsenal a year ago as elite player development coach, taking charge of the U19s in the UEFA Youth League and the U21s in the EFL Trophy. Before that, he had a short stint at Manchester United, where he worked directly with Scanlon and came away impressed.

Arsenal are not stopping at one United prospect. They are closing in on a double move, with Ogunneye also on his way from Old Trafford.

The 20-year-old right-back, who featured in several Manchester United first-team matchday squads under Erik ten Hag during the 2023/24 campaign, spent the first half of last season on loan at Newport County in League Two before being recalled in January. His development has not gone unnoticed in north London.

Standard Sport understands that Arsenal have scheduled a medical for Ogunneye on Thursday, with an official announcement expected over the weekend. He is set to join the club on a free transfer that includes a 40 per cent sell-on clause for United.

Ogunneye will link up initially with the Under-21s but is also expected to train with Mikel Arteta’s first team at the Emirates Stadium — a clear sign that Arsenal’s youth drive is being built with the senior squad firmly in mind.