Newcastle United are reportedly leading the race to sign Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri on loan this summer.
The 19-year-old remains highly rated at Arsenal, even though his development stalled last season after a January loan move to Marseille failed to deliver regular starts—tell Newcastle about that. Nwaneri started only four games for the French club, finishing his French spell with just two goals and one assist.
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Newcastle
are currently in the strongest position to land the winger.
“My sources and I have made a few calls, and Nwaneri to Newcastle seems to be the favourite position right now, that’s where the talk is,” Wyness said. “Of course, these things can change pretty quickly, but I’m told that’s where the biggest, firmest discussions are right now.”
Everton, Aston Villa and Como have also been linked with the England Under-21 international, but Wyness believes Newcastle could offer the clearest pathway to minutes, even without the appeal of European football next season.
“He can do a job better at Newcastle, where he’ll get more minutes,” Wyness said. “So that sort of thing makes sense for him to have another loan.”
Newcastle are looking to refresh their attacking options after Anthony Gordon’s move to Barcelona and could view Nwaneri as a short-term squad addition with upside, if only to add some depth and fresh legs to next season’s rotation.
For now, Newcastle are being described as the club with the “firmest discussions” around a possible loan, but no formal approach has been reported outside of this report.
