Revealed: Arsenal to complete new signings next week

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on:

19 Jan 2016, 2:26 pm

By Editor Wayne Veysey | Former Evening Standard, Press Association and Goal chief correspondent with 17 years experience of breaking big stories, including exclusives like this

Follow me on Twitter @footyinsider247

Arsenal are confident of completing deals for two Nigerian teen sensations by next week, Football Insider sources understand.

Football Insider revealed earlier last week that the Gunners were in advanced talks to recruit midfield wonderkids Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze to their academy.

This comes after they announced the signing of Mohamed Elneny, who was unveiled as an Arsenal player last Thursday after being granted a UK visa to complete his £5.2million move.

An Arsenal recruitment source has told Football Insider that the London giants have reached an agreement on a double deal for Nwakali and Chukwueze.

But the transfers are in limbo while Arsenal await clearance. The teenagers need work permits and visas to play in the UK, although the Gunners are hopeful they will be in place by the end of next week.

The north Londoners have beaten Manchester City to the signings of the exciting teenage pair.

Mohamed Elneny has been unveiled as an Arsenal player

Done deal: Elneny was unveiled as an Arsenal player last Thursday

The Premier League giants were among a number of leading European clubs who scouted Nwakali and Chukwueze in last year's Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Chile.

Nwakali, 17, was named as player of the tournament, while Chukwueze, 16, also delivered a series of promising displays for Nigeria.

Nwakali is able to sign a professional contract as he has already turned 17, but Chukwuze will only be able to sign a scholarship deal.

Arsenal

Mohamed Elneny

Kelechi Nwakali

Samuel Chukwueze