Arsenal are stepping up their January transfer plans, and all eyes are on 15-year-old French sensation Lacine Megnan-Pave.
The Gunners have reportedly sent scouts to monitor the Montpellier U17 forward, who’s been lighting up youth football in France. Standing tall at 1.87m and boasting an impressive mix of strength and skill, Megnan-Pave has drawn serious comparisons to France’s elite talents.
Described as the “next big thing” in French football, the teenage captain of France’s U16 side has produced 15 goals and 12 assists in just 24 games, leaving top clubs scrambling for his signature.
Both Arsenal and Barcelona are keeping close tabs, but the Gunners are believed to be readying a move to beat the Spanish giants to his signature. Arsenal’s scouting team is said to be “buzzing with excitement” over the youngster’s potential.
Megnan-Pave fits perfectly into Mikel Arteta’s youth-first vision, following the same development path that turned Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri into first-team stars. His blend of power, leadership, and technical flair makes him exactly the type of forward Arsenal crave.
Montpellier are desperate to keep hold of their starlet, but with the player’s contract details under wraps, a January swoop isn’t off the table, though FIFA’s rules on minors could complicate the move.
For Arsenal, snapping up Megnan-Pave would underline their ambition to build for the future while competing for silverware now.
Could he be the next William Saliba to grace the Emirates? Arsenal’s scouts certainly think so.
