Arsenal are set to sign Rangers starlet Alexander Smith, according to reports. As per The Sun, the Gunners are about to finalise a deal in six figures for this outstanding talent.
Before Smith, the Rangers had fans witnessed Rory Wilson and Billy Gilmour joining the top-flight English clubs Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively.
As of now, the 15-year-old Alexander Smith has represented the USA U15s and Scotland U16s. The attacking midfielder holds citizenship for both the USA and Scotland.
While playing for both these teams, Smith has shown immense potential and excellent skill. Arsenal were scouting him closely while he was on International duty, creating a great opportunity for the young raw talent to showcase his ability on a big stage.
Last year in April, Smith emerged as a star kid while playing for Glasgow Giants at the east Mallorca in Spain. In the five matches, he was chosen man of the match four times, with his team notching up four ties and one win over Liverpool. Now, Arsenal are fully open to talking with Gers about the possibility of bringing the 15-year-old to London.
In the recent times, there have been several transfers from Scotland to the English league. This clearly shows Scotland is becoming a hotbed for talent which is a great thing for English clubs as they get to recruit them at the very first chance.
However, the Rangers seem to be making efforts not to lose Smith any time soon. But eventually, it will come down to the young man whether he will want to stay with the club or go to Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta and Rangers Connections
One of the major factors that will work in favor of Arsenal is Mikel Arteta’s connection with Rangers. The Gunners boss had played for Gers back in 2002 for two years. So, he has a foot in the door over there which will help in signing Alexander Smith.
On several occasions, Arteta has praised the Scottish club and their environment. In one of the media talks he said,
‘I loved Glasgow, I always recommend it to people to move there if they have the chance. They will be surprised. It’s hard to find people as passionate as loyal and as open as the people in Scotland and Glasgow in particular. I always felt very welcome and I had the support behind me. I had a great time there.’
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So now, we will have to wait and see how and when, if at all, the Gunners sign Smith. Will the Arteta connection help? How long will it take to make it official? All these questions will unfold as per Arsenal’s approach and Smith’s development.
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