Arsenal 'open negotiations' to keep wonderkid Chido Obi Martin after decision fans will love
Arsenal have reportedly opened negotiations with teenage striker Chido Obi Martin after he signed with a new agent.
The 16-year-old has outlined his talents this season with an incredible goalscoring streak in the U18 Premier League. Martin has scored a whopping 29 goals in just 17 appearances and has made two appearances in the Premier League 2 despite his young age.
His scoring pedigree includes an impressive seven-goal haul in a victory over Norwich City, five against West Ham United and four-goal hauls against Fulham and Crystal Palace. Unsurprisingly, this form has excited Arsenal supporters as they look to how Mikel Arteta's side could look in the future.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Arteta is keen to progress with contract talks after Martin made the decision to switch agents to the Elite Project Group. Notably, they represent Arsenal star Bukayo Saka who like Martin is a product of the academy.
Other stars on their books include Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho and ex-Gunner and now AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun. At this stage, new contracts have been signed but Arsenal are pressing hard to keep hold of the exciting prospect.
While the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool have introduced several academy players into their first-team squads, Arteta admitted earlier this year that his club was not yet at the stage to do that. "Today, to give the opportunities and play in the first team at the level that is required, we are a bit short," he explained in February.
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"We certainly want to do that [giving more opportunities to academy players]. First of all, we need to produce those talents and they have to earn it.
"Then we have to produce the talents in the positions that we need to fill." Arsenal will be on the lookout for a centre-forward in the summer transfer window.
Despite his hot form in front of goal, Martin is not expected to fill that position just yet.