Arsenal are beating Manchester United and Manchester City in the race for Charlton’s 17-year-old wonder kid Joe Gomez, according to reports.
The defender has featured for the Championship outfit 16 times this season and has represented England at U19 level.
Arsenal have strong ties with second-tier side Charlton and will use those links to their advantage in order to secure the teenager, who can play out wide or in the centre of defence.
Charlton are said to have accepted that Gomez will be on the move this summer and are willing to complete a deal, as long as their asking price of £8m is met.
In all competitions, Gomez has made 23 appearances in his debut season for the Addicks and is highly-regarded as one to watch in the future, both domestically and in the ranks for England’s national side.
Arsenal have a history of signing young talent from smaller clubs, with Carl Jenkinson and Calum Chambers among those signed in recent years.