Why Arsenal should look to beat Man United to starlet Logan Pye

According to Football London, Arsenal have been credited with an interest in Sunderland starlet Logan Pye, who is also on the radar of Man United.

The Red Devils were heavily linked with a move for the talented teenager in the summer but Arsenal have now emerged as the front runners in the race to sign the 15-year-old in January after United opted against making an official approach for him. (h/t Football London)

Pye is going to turn 16 towards the end of October, which means that Arsenal should have no problems in completing a deal for him during the mid-season trading period.

The left-back is yet to make his senior professional bow for the Black Cats but he is highly-rated in the club’s youth ranks.

Having spent his entire youth career at Sunderland, Logan Pye made his U-18 debut for the Black Cats in the U-18 Premier League in the previous campaign and caught the eye with his talent and potential, making a total of 4 appearances and scoring a goal in a 6-1 defeat to West Brom back in March.

The 15-year-old has established himself in a more substantial role at the U-18 level this term under manager Mark Atkinson, with the youngster already making 6 appearances in the league and his rapid progress through the ranks has put the likes of Man United and Arsenal on red alert.

The Sunderland prodigy, who has also showcased the versatility to play as a central defender, has already made his mark for England at the U-16 level, having made his debut against Turkey in August 2018.

To put things into perspective, Pye looks like a real talent at this stage of his career and he would be an ideal long-term investment for both the Premier League giants in question but the Gunners should try to have the final say in the race to sign the 15-year-old sensation.

The Sunderland youth prospect is still very much in the formative years of his footballing career and there is a long way to go before he is ready to make the transition to senior men’s football at the Premier League level. However, Arsenal could have a gem on their hands in the future if he goes on to fulfil his potential in the years to come.

That he is playing for Sunderland at the U-18 level at the tender age of 15 is indicative of a level of maturity that belies his tender years as a footballer and the Gunners should definitely take note it.

Additionally, Sunderland have a good track record of blooding quality youngsters in their academy and Arsenal are likely to be impressed with the kind of progress Sam Greenwood has shown over the past twelve months after moving to the capital from the Stadium of Light.

The pathway from the academy to the senior ranks has been wide open over the course of Unai Emery’s reign, with starlets like Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka enjoying a lot of involvement.

Furthermore, the Gunners added highly-rated teenagers like Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba to their envious pool of up and coming homegrown prospects in the summer and both of them are expected to have a big positive impact on the club’s future moving forward.

Logan Pye might just be 15 but he is a player with serious potential, nevertheless, and Arsenal snapping him up would definitely be a strong statement of intent.