Arsenal and Spurs watching French starlet more prolific than Benzema and Henry

Stuart Telford

• 27 Jan 2023 17:35 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are in a race to sign a French attacking prodigy who has raced to 20 Ligue 1 goals quicker than Karim Benzema or Thierry Henry managed.

The North London rivals are each looking for a long-term solution up front.

Eddie Nketiah has impressed for Arsenal following Gabriel Jesus's potentially season-ending injury, but the feeling remains that more depth in the position would be welcomed at the Emirates.

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Tottenham have one of the game's best No.9s in Harry Kane, meanwhile, but the England captain turns 30 in July and should Richarlison's patience at being played out of position run out, a longer-term solution could be a necessity.

Step forward: Elye Wahi, who has lit up Ligue 1 since breaking through with Montpellier in 2021, and scored his 20th French top-flight goal against Lorient in December a month before turning 20. Scouts from the North London giants were in attendance.

"A revelation in Ligue 1 this season, Wahi has aroused the interest of many clubs," report Foot Mercato. "He was recently scouted by Tottenham and Arsenal and although they continue to monitor his performance, he doesn't intend to leave this winter except for an incredible last-minute offer."

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How good is Wahi?

Wahi was the top-scoring teenager in Europe last term with his 10 Ligue 1 goals, and he has continued to be prolific even though his Montpellier are just two points above the relegation places after 19 games played.

His seven goals and an assist in the current campaign have been plundered at a rate of one every two games, for a struggling team.

A France under-19 international with two goals in six appearance with les Espoirs, the livewire striker is rated at €17.4m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm with another two years to run on his existing contract.