Arsenal reportedly made a desperate bid to try and keep Ayden Heaven ahead of his expected move to Manchester United in the January transfer window.

Heaven has gained plenty of admirers in the Arsenal academy this season and would make his debut for the first team in the victory over Preston North End in the Carabao Cup. However, the 18-year-old has yet to make his debut in the Premier League and has been an unused substitute on three occasions this campaign.

This decision not to utilise the centre-back led clubs from across Europe to gain confidence that they could poach Heaven from the Gunners this winter. Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United from the Premier League, as well as RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga are believed to have been interested in the defender's services.

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However, it is United who look to have won the race. In a desperate bid to keep hold of Heaven, Arsenal attempted to offer him a professional contract but according to TBR Football, this was deemed too little, too late.

The defender is understood to have been in attendance last Thursday night when United beat Rangers 2-1 in the Europa League and he is expected to finalise paperwork with the Reds in the next week. According to our colleagues at the Manchester Evening News, Heaven would join the club as a first-team signing and thus could feature in the Premier League for his new team.

Should the departure be finalised, it would be seen as yet another blow for Arsenal after losing Chido Obi-Martin to United previously. It also highlights an area that Mikel Arteta needs to work on as he attempts to avoid losing more impressive youngsters to Premier League rivals in the future.