Manchester City fear Arsenal have won race for their 17-year-old academy wonderkid Jadon Sancho
The 17-year-old winger is stalling on signing a three-year deal worth £30,000-a-week with Pep Guardiola’s side
MANCHESTER CITY fear Arsenal have won the race to snap-up academy wonderkid Jadon Sancho.
The 17-year-old winger is stalling on signing a new three-year deal worth £30,000-a-week with Pep Guardiola’s side.
And the England Under-17 international is believed to be keen on joining the Gunners.
It is thought he sees Arsene Wenger as the perfect mentor to guide him into first-team action.
Spurs had an attempt to grab Sancho as part of Kyle Walker’s £50m switch to City rejected earlier this summer.
An Etihad source said: “The club is worried Arsenal are frontrunners for Jadon as he has a soft spot for them.
“His family think he might get a quicker path to first-team action at either Arsenal or Spurs.
“One of his heroes is ironically Alexis Sanchez. It’s proving difficult to get him to sign his first professional contract here.
“He is a top player, one of, if not the best in the youth system. It’s not about the money for him at all.”
Sancho is expected to walk away from the club in 12-months-time with City due compensation unless they can agree a fee.
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He has shone of their youth sides over the past few season including in their Under-18s and Under-21s.
The South Londoner was also a key part of the England Under-17 team this summer who came runners-up in the Euros in May.
Sancho – who joined City from Watford for £500,000 in 2015 – won the prestigious Golden Player award, given to the tournament’s best player.