Liverpool Cools Interest in Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri Amid Transfer Buzz
Liverpool have cooled talk of a move for Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri, despite holding clear admiration for the teenager’s talent.
Claims on Wednesday from a “team of five elite reporters” on X that Liverpool and Arsenal had been “locked in intense, high-level talks ALL DAY” over Nwaneri sent transfer chatter into overdrive. The posts even suggested Arsenal were looking to sell the 17-year-old this summer.
That version of events has been firmly challenged.
Anfield Sector, a Liverpool-focused outlet, moved quickly to play down the story, insisting that while Liverpool rate Nwaneri highly, they are not currently pursuing a deal. Their message on X was blunt: there is “admiration for his abilities as a footballer but no desire to complete a transfer currently as things stand.”
So Liverpool’s search for a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah appears to be heading elsewhere. The club are in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, both viewed as primary targets for the wide positions. PSG’s initial stance is eye-watering: a combined €200million (£171m) valuation, a figure Liverpool are trying to drive down.
Nwaneri, capable of operating off the right or in a No 10 role, had emerged as a surprise name on the rumour mill in recent days, but the Merseyside club are not expected to push that door open.
Arsenal, for their part, are keeping their options open without actively putting their homegrown prospects on the market. Asked about potential exits for Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arsenal CEO Richard Garlick acknowledged the rising interest.
“There’s been a lot of speculation around players,” he said. “I can’t stop other clubs being interested. I think Myles has had a fantastic end to last season and has started this one really well – we’re very, very happy with him.
“Ethan has had a great pre-season as well and I think it’s just a case of looking at what opportunities there are that will help both of those in terms of their career moving forward. We are not actively looking at selling those homegrown players but if the right opportunity came up – right for them and the club – we’d obviously consider that.”
That “right opportunity” may well come from elsewhere.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has outlined a growing queue for Nwaneri. Speaking on Monday, he detailed how AC Milan, several German clubs and Galatasaray have all made contact with Arsenal about a potential deal, with Premier League sides also circling.
“Talking about Ethan Nwaneri… a lot of interest,” Romano said. “AC Milan made contact with Arsenal, German clubs made contact with Arsenal, Galatasaray made contact with Arsenal, and then, Premier League clubs are coming.
“There is a feeling at Arsenal that Premier League clubs are now going to knock on the door and try to get a deal done for Ethan Nwaneri.
“So there’s going to be a lot of movement on the boy, and obviously it’ll be on Nwaneri to decide, because the expectation is to see a lot of proposals and movement.
“He’ll be a very interesting market opportunity, but at the same time it’s Nwaneri deciding with his agents and family, so we have to wait and see what’s going to happen there.”
The market is already responding. TEAMtalk reported on Thursday that Borussia Dortmund are actively in the hunt for a new winger and hold “concrete interest” in Nwaneri. The Bundesliga club, renowned for developing young English talent, are tracking him closely.
Reports value the England youth international at between £35m and £50m, a hefty price tag for a teenager but one that reflects both his potential and the premium on elite homegrown players. Any sale is also expected to see Arsenal push for a buy-back clause, a safety net that would allow them to bring Nwaneri back to north London if he explodes elsewhere.
So while Liverpool’s admiration stops short of a bid, the race for Ethan Nwaneri is very much alive. The next move now rests with Arsenal – and with a young player who suddenly finds half of Europe waiting for his answer.
