According to reports in the English media, the Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has completed the first summer addition to his squad already. However, this looks like an addition to the academy rather than the first-team as the player is only 16 years of age.
A report from The Mail is claiming that the North London side have beaten competition from Manchester United and a number of top French teams to sign Yassin Fortune, who is a French U-16 international. The wonderkid is a versatile midfielder who is highly-rated in France and pundits of Ligue Un have referred to the player as the next big thing in French football, which is why it is no surprise to hear that Wenger has pounced and tied him down to a three-year deal.
However, I find it very interesting that Le Prof still continues to sign teenage midfielders, although Fortune can also play on the wing or as central striker, when the club have a multitude of options in that position in the first-team and even more so in the academy, the acquisition of Polish youngster Krystian Bielik is another example. Perhaps he is looking to build the future midfield core of the team in the academy and see how it comes along.
Anyway, what the Frenchman really needs to focus on is bringing reinforcements for the first-team, with Arsenal fans crying out for the signings of Alexandre Lacazette, Morgan Schneiderlin and maybe one of Raheem Sterling and Pedro Rodriguez if Theo Walcott’s transfer saga is not sorted out. Arsenal fans can only hope that Wenger switches his attention from the academy to the first-team as soon as possible.
Anurag