Liverpool Cool Interest in Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri Amid PSG Focus
Liverpool have cooled talk of a move for Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri this summer, despite privately rating the teenager highly.
On Wednesday, speculation exploded on social media when a self-styled “team of five elite reporters” claimed on X that Liverpool and Arsenal had been “locked in intense, high-level talks all day” over Nwaneri, adding that Arsenal were looking to sell the youngster before the window shuts.
That version of events has quickly been challenged.
Liverpool’s winger plan stays focused on PSG duo
Liverpool are in the market for a right-sided attacker as they prepare for life after Mohamed Salah, and Nwaneri’s versatility — capable of operating off the right or as a No 10 — inevitably put his name into the conversation.
Their primary focus, though, remains elsewhere. The club’s top targets for the wide roles are Paris Saint-Germain pair Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye. Those negotiations are ongoing, with PSG quoting a huge combined price of around €200m (£171m) as Liverpool work to drag that figure down.
Amid the noise around Nwaneri, Anfield Sector moved to shut down talk of an imminent bid from Merseyside, posting on X that while there is “admiration for his abilities as a footballer” there is “no desire to complete a transfer currently as things stand.”
For now, Liverpool’s energy stays trained on Paris, not north London.
Arsenal stance: open, but not pushing a sale
Inside Arsenal, the situation around Nwaneri and fellow academy talent Myles Lewis-Skelly is more nuanced than a straight “for sale” sign.
Asked about potential exits for the pair, Arsenal CEO Richard Garlick addressed the growing speculation.
“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.”
Arsenal are not pushing Nwaneri out of the door. But they are listening.
Reports have pitched his valuation between £35m and £50m, and any permanent deal is expected to come with Arsenal insisting on a buy-back clause to keep a degree of control over his future.
Europe lines up for Nwaneri
While Liverpool step back, the queue elsewhere is forming.
Fabrizio Romano outlined the scale of interest on Monday, explaining that AC Milan have made contact with Arsenal, as have clubs from Germany and Galatasaray. Premier League sides are also circling.
“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,” Romano said, adding that the expectation is for “a lot of proposals and movement” around the 17-year-old.
Our colleagues at TEAMtalk reported on Thursday that Borussia Dortmund are actively in the market for a new winger and hold concrete interest in Nwaneri, underlining how highly regarded he is across the continent.
So the picture is clear enough. Liverpool admire him but are not moving. Arsenal are open but not desperate. Europe is watching closely.
The next step belongs to Nwaneri, his agents and his family — and whichever club convinces him they can turn raw promise into a first-team career.
