Arsenal Targets Gibraltar Winger Scanlon Amid Youth Strategy
Arsenal’s recruitment push at youth level has zeroed in on a new name: 19-year-old winger Scanlon, with the club stepping up efforts to bring him in from United.
The Leicester-born wide man, who qualifies for Gibraltar through his mother, already has 24 senior international caps to his name. Last season he spent the second half of the campaign on loan at League Two side Swindon, gaining regular senior minutes and catching the eye of scouts tracking his progress.
Arsenal believe the player is sold on the move. Personal terms are not expected to be a stumbling block, with Scanlon understood to be keen on a switch to north London. The real work now lies in striking a deal with United, as discussions over a fee continue. The Gunners want this to move quickly and hope for significant progress within the next 72 hours.
Inside Arsenal’s pursuit
Two figures in particular have pushed Scanlon’s name to the top of Arsenal’s list.
Chris Perkins, who arrived at the club in 2023 as a professional development phase scout, has tracked the winger’s rise for years. Perkins previously spent six years as head of academy recruitment at Derby, the very period in which Scanlon came through the age groups there. That long-term view has given Arsenal strong internal backing for the move.
Then there is David Horseman. Appointed earlier this week as the new head coach of Arsenal’s Under-21s, Horseman has also strongly recommended Scanlon. He joined the club a year ago as elite player development coach, leading the U19s in the UEFA Youth League and the U21s in the EFL Trophy, and has now been promoted into a more prominent role.
Before his time at Arsenal, Horseman had a brief spell at United, where he worked directly with Scanlon and came away impressed by his qualities. His endorsement has added weight to the push to sign the teenager, fitting neatly with the club’s renewed emphasis on targeted youth recruitment.
Double raid on United?
Arsenal are not limiting their interest to one young talent. The club are also looking at a deal for United right-back Habeeb Ogunneye, raising the prospect of a double swoop.
Ogunneye spent the first half of last season on loan at fourth-tier Newport, gaining experience in senior football before United recalled him in January. Arsenal see him as another potential addition to their development squads, with an eye on future first-team pathways.
If both moves come off, they would underline a clear strategy: identify young players with senior exposure, trusted by staff who know them well, and bring them into a system built to accelerate their growth.
