Arsenal battle Chelsea for 18-year-old wonderkid

Tom Weber

Updated: 7 Dec 2024 13:33 GMT
3 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, Enzo Maresca, Chelsea — © IMAGO

Arsenal and Chelsea are among the clubs with an interest in Martim Fernandes, according to a report.

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The Porto full-back is enjoying a breakout campaign with his boyhood club. Fernandes, a local boy, has been with the side for years and is in the midst of his first season of regular first-team football.

Though not yet a guaranteed starter at all times, the 18-year-old has already made 17 senior appearances this term in which he has contributed with a very encouraging four assists so far.

Primarily a right-back, the teenager can also feature on the left side of the backline and is continuously impressing with his performances. Indeed, his displays are not going unnoticed outside of Portugal.

Fernandes eyed by Premier League sides

According to TBR Football, Fernandes has attracted the attention of several Premier League sides, including the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.

It is asserted that Liverpool are looking at Fernandes as a potential long-term replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Arsenal and Chelsea are simply attracted by his evident potential.

But it is not just Premier League sides who have been keeping tabs on the 18-year-old, with Real Madrid, PSG and German clubs also named among his suitors.

The outlet compares Fernandes to Alexander-Arnold due to his attacking output, but it remains to be seen if he is really ready for a move to one of Europe's elite clubs. Liverpool, for their part, would of course prefer to keep their homegrown hero around.

As for Arsenal, the signing of Fernandes would be a bit of a deviation compared to Mikel Arteta's recent defensive acquisitions given that the Spaniard has primarily targeted physical full-backs who are capable of playing centre-back.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have made it their mission to snap up the brightest young talents from Europe and beyond and Fernandes evidently falls into that category of player.