Arsenal & Chelsea Leading Chase For Ghanian Wonderkid

Despite the transfer window being closed there is still plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today, Arsenal and Chelsea lead the chase for Koby Arthur.

London duo Arsenal and Chelsea are leading the chase for Birmingham City’s latest young hot-shot Koby Arthur, according to the Mirror.

17-year-old Arthur, nicknamed ‘King Arthur’, only moved to the UK a year ago from his native Ghana but is on the verge of breaking in to the Birmingham first team already after impressing with the reserve team.

The report claims that Arsenal and Chelsea have both shown a keen interest in the talented youngster while Premier League champions Manchester City are also understood to be keeping a close eye on his progress.

The teenage striker is yet to sign professional terms with City and manager Lee Clarke is fast-tracking him to the first team set up to try and persuade him to commit his future to St Andrews amid fears the Premier League big-guns could lure him away from the club.

The Mirror claims Birmingham scouts spotted Arthur playing non-league football and enrolled him in the clubs Community Trust football development and education programme but he was soon impressing so much that he was promoted to the reserves.

He was handed a first team squad number last month ahead of City’s league clash with Sheffield and the attacker, who can play anywhere across the front line, could now be in line for a place on the bench against Palace this Friday night.

The players representative, Saif Rubie, confirmed he’s in talks with City over a professional contract but insisted he will do whats best for Arthur’s future:

“Koby is an amazing young talent.

“We are looking to do the best thing for his progress and they [Birmingham] are looking to secure him to a professional deal.” Rubie is quoted as saying by the Mirror

Clark isn’t afraid to give youth a chance at St Andrews as he’s already given five Academy players their first-team debuts this season and it doesn’t look like it will be long until Arthur becomes the sixth.

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It’s no surprise City are keen to tie him down to pro terms as the club would only be awarded minimal compensation if Arthur decided to join the likes of Arsenal or Chelsea.