EFL clubs want January swoop for international Arsenal player as deal faces termination
Arsenal are weighing up where to send young defender Maldini Kacurri on loan for the second half of the season as he continues to impress during his spell at Morecambe.
Mikel Arteta has promoted youth throughout his time as Arsenal manager, and that has not changed this season despite their title charge.
Max Dowman has broken into Arsenal’s senior team at just 15 years old, joining the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly as youngsters who have bridged the gap from the academy in recent seasons.
The Gunners have also allowed numerous youngsters to ply their trade out on loan this term, such as Karl Hein and Ismeal Kabia, with centre-back Kacurri joining Morecambe on a short-term deal in September.
He has impressed in the National League so far in this campaign, and Arsenal will have a decision to make on his future when the January window rolls around soon.
Morecambe want to extend Kacurri’s loan but face competition from other interested sides
Kacurri made his senior Arsenal debut last September against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup, then joined League Two side Bromley on loan in February for the rest of the season.
He struggled for game time there with just three appearances made, so returned to North London in the summer and subsequently joined Morecambe on a short loan in September.
The one-cap Albanian international has been a key man for the Shrimps so far, with one goal in 15 starts as he won their Player of the Month awards for October and November and was described as a “commanding presence” who has shown “maturity beyond his years.”
The Sun have now reported that the National League side want to extend the 20-year-old’s loan spell next month to run until the end of the campaign.
Arsenal face a tough decision next month, however, as his performances have reportedly attracted interest from clubs higher up the pyramid, so an EFL return could be on the cards for Kacurri soon.
How are some of Arsenal’s other loanees getting on this season?
Kacurri has been joined by several other Arsenal players who have been loaned out this season, with Oleksandr Zinchenko probably the most high-profile of the lot as he spends the campaign at Nottingham Forest.
He has struggled to make his mark in the East Midlands, with just seven appearances so far, while Reiss Nelson has also failed to have an impact at Brentford after starting just one game in all competitions as yet.
Jakub Kiwior is loving life at Liga Portugal leaders Porto, with 15 appearances so far as he proves his worth overseas, while Fabio Vieira spent last term with the Dragons but is now at Hamburg, and has registered one goal and three assists in 11 games up to now.