Arsenal have made an offer to Monga’s camp, but Leicester are expected to seek significant compensation for one of their brightest young players.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Arsenal have been told it could take around £15 million to sign Jeremy Monga, with the Leicester City winger expected to attract strong interest from the Premier League’s biggest clubs this summer.
The 16-year-old is likely to leave the King Power Stadium after Leicester’s relegation to League One, and Arsenal have already made an offer to his camp.
Talks have reportedly centred on his potential first-team pathway, with the Gunners currently appearing to be in a strong position if Monga decides, as is expected, that his future lies away from Leicester.
Manchester United have also been prominently linked in recent weeks, with the Manchester Evening News reporting that United have held talks with Leicester over the teenager and that a £15m price tag has been mooted.
Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images
That fee would be significant for a player of Monga’s age, but given his potential and Leicester’s position, it would still be viewed as a serious opportunity by the clubs chasing him.
Earlier interest was reported by Sam Wallace and Sam Dean in The Telegraph, who wrote in April that Arsenal were showing strong interest in Monga and hoped to sign him before he committed his long-term future to Leicester.
Monga previously agreed to sign a professional contract when he turns 17 in July, but that agreement does not guarantee he will stay.
That timing matters. Monga signed a deal last summer that automatically becomes his first professional contract on 10 July, and Leicester would then be in a stronger position to negotiate the above mentioned £15m fee.
If Arsenal or another club move before that point, the issue would then become compensation. While that would be lower than a fee, Leicester will still want a figure that reflects both his talent and the level of interest in him.
Arsenal’s case is helped by Leicester’s relegation. The Foxes had hoped to rebuild around their best young players, with Monga foremost among them, but it will be harder to convince a player of his flourishing reputation to stay in the third tier when he has the chance to move to the Premier League champions.
Monga made 10 starts for Leicester in all competitions this season, scoring once and providing two assists.
He is also an England under-19 international, making 10 appearances at that level this season and playing alongside Max Dowman on a couple of occasions.