Chido Martin-Obi omitted from Arsenal scholarship intake as free-scoring teenager edges closer to Man Utd move

Martin-Obi appears to have taken another step towards an Arsenal exit after being left out of the club's list of first-year scholars for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The Gunners have announced 11 new scholars who will train under Jack Wilshere and Per Mertesacker for the next two seasons, but Martin-Obi is conspicuous by his absence.

Martin-Obi has emerged as a target for Manchester United and has been invited to visit Carrington as talks begin over a potential transfer. Luring the teenager away from Arsenal would be seen as a real coup by the Red Devils. Martin-Obi has developed a fearsome reputation during his time with the Gunners and scored 29 goals in 17 league outings for the Under-18s. The forward is one of the most exciting prospects to emerge from Arsenal's academy and also caught the eye back in April when he scored seven goals in a 9-0 win over Norwich City.

The Arsenal wonderkid scored 10 goals in a 14-3 win for the Under-16 team against Liverpool in November.

Martin-Obi's schoolboy terms at Arsenal have now expired leaving him with a big decision to make on his future. German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are also thought to be interested, as clubs queue up to land one of the hottest properties around right now.