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Arsenal have run into a potential stumbling block as they look to tie down Ethan Nwaneri to a new contract, according to a report.
The wonderkid has entered the final year of his current deal and has not yet committed his future to the club, placing several elite sides on red alert.
This is despite the Gunners wanting the talented 18-year-old to sign a five-year extension, as reported by Mail Sport, after he impressed last season.
Chelsea have in recent days been linked with a shock swoop on their rivals for Nwaneri, who is the youngest player in Premier League history.
In a further blow to Arsenal, talkSPORT have claimed he is relucant to put pen to paper unless he is guaranteed playing time next campaign.
The ultimatum comes after he scored four goals in 26 top-flight appearances last term, with only 11 of those matches seeing him handing a start.
Arsenal have encountered a stumbling block as they look to tie down Ethan Nwaneri
The talented teenager has entered the final year of his contract and is yet to pen an extension
Mikel Arteta wants to keep Nwaneri but the wonderkid is holding out for regular game time
Nwaneri has made no secret of his desire to win the Ballon d'Or one day, telling talkSPORT: 'That's just the goal, definitely. I've got that in the back of my mind.'
A graduate of Arsenal's esteemed Hale End academy, the teenager has been on the books at the club since he was eight years old.
He was handed his first-team debut by Mikel Arteta in September 2022, coming on during a 3-0 win over Brentford aged just 15 years and 181 days.
Just one further league outing came in the 2023/24 campaign but Nwaneri then made the full step up to the Gunners' first-team for 2024/25.
He played 37 matches across all competitions, scoring nine goals.
His bid for regular minutes at Arsenal may be derailed, however, with the club said to have agreed personal terms with Chelsea's Noni Madueke.
It is understood the Blues have not made contact with Arsenal to lodge a bid.
In a surprise twist, Chelsea could look to snap up Nwaneri should Madueke leave, and they are actively monitoring his situation, according to Fabrizio Romano.
