Manchester United are close to signing centre-back Ayden Heaven from Arsenal.

The Manchester Evening News understands United are close to striking an agreement to land Heaven, although the deal is not finalised and there is still paperwork to complete.

Sources have indicated Heaven would be considered as a first-team signing, which raises the prospect of the 18-year-old being involved with Ruben Amorim's squad this season.

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Heaven is a naturally left-footed centre-back, but he is versatile and can also play at left-back and in defensive midfield. Left-footed centre-backs are worth their weight in gold in modern football and United submitted bids to Everton last summer in an attempt to sign Jarrad Branthwaite.

United have triggered the one-year extension in Harry Maguire's contract, but Victor Lindelof is set to leave the club at the end of the season and Jonny Evans is also out of contract.

Mikel Arteta handed Heaven his senior Arsenal debut in a Carabao Cup tie in October, but he rejected a new contract at the London club and is set to relocate to Manchester.

Although European giants Borussia Dortmund and Ajax were linked with Heaven this month, United are set to win the race for his signature and land an exciting prospect.

Heaven started two of Arsenal's three games on their pre-season tour in the United States last summer, which included a start against United at the SoFi Stadium in California.

United recently signed the exciting Chido Obi-Martin from Arsenal and Heaven's arrival will be seen as another coup, but he is viewed as a first-team addition, unlike Obi-Martin, who went straight into the academy set-up and has starred predominantly for the Under-18s this season.

Heaven is London-born and has represented England at Under-19 international level.