Manchester United have struck an agreement with Chido Obi-Martin, who has decided to leave Arsenal.
Chido Obi-Martin has agreed to join Manchester United, after announcing his decision to leave Arsenal.
Obi-Martin is a hugely exciting prospect who struck 32 goals for Arsenal’s under-18s side last season.
While just 16, he has been convinced there is a pathway into the Manchester United first team, with a little help from Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Arsenal
The biggest losers from Chido Obi-Martin’s move to Manchester United are undoubtedly Arsenal.
Obi-Martin was on their books, and they have lost him. That is a big failure on their part, just like how Manchester United got it wrong with Paul Pogba back in 2012.
Obi-Martin did not believe in the Arsenal project, and that is a damning indictment of the way manager Mikel Arteta has lacked faith in their young players when it matters.
On the other hand, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has a proven track record of giving debuts to young players at Ajax, and at Old Trafford, where teenagers Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho started and scored in the FA Cup Final.
Arsenal will have to live with this failure by seeing Obi-Martin at a Premier League rival. This exit could really haunt them.
Ethan Wheatley
Ethan Wheatley was third in line behind Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, and even made his debut late last season.
Now, it is emerging that Obi-Martin is set to become United’s third choice striker, potentially overtaking Wheatley.
The logical deduction here is that Ethan Wheatley may be sent out on a loan deal for his development.
Wheatley is now on pre-season tour with the first team squad. He could yet alter plans if he can impress against Real Betis or Liverpool.
But on the face of it, Chido Obi-Martin’s arrival could make it a little tougher for Wheatley in the long run.
Ivan Toney
Manchester United had been linked with a potential move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney, via The Athletic.
No move was considered imminent, but it was one Manchester United were said to have weighed up.
Toney is a proven Premier League option, but Obi-Martin’s signing is a hint that United could be looking towards a long-term option rather than a short-term one, especially if there are plans to fast-track the teenage forward.
Don’t rule out a move completely, but Ivan Toney’s hopes of signing for Manchester United look a little slimmer.
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