Arsenal target Montpellier wonderkid Elye Wahi despite Balogun form

Cameron Smith

• 20 Feb 2023 14:51 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal are weighing up a move for Montpellier and France wonderkid Sepe Elye Wahi following his rise to prominence in Ligue 1, according to reports.

The 20-year-old hit the 20-goal mark in the competition quicker than both Karim Benzema and Thierry Henry, while he was the top-scoring teenager in Europe last term with 10 Ligue 1 goals.

As a result, he has attracted interest from across Europe, with scouts keeping a close eye on the young forward, whose current contract at Montpellier is set to expire in 2025.

READ: Arsenal vs Man Utd for Dumfries as Chelsea fall out of race

Wahi has already netted eight goals and two assists in 21 league appearances this campaign, which has attracted interest from Arsenal, as well as Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund, according to Telefoot.

The report details that all three clubs are targeting Wahi next summer, with the player deemed to be of great value.

READ: Balogun given Henry advice after missing match-winning penalty

Why are Arsenal targeting Wahi?

Arsenal's pursuit of Wahi is slightly strange, however, given the fact that Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah are both already at the club and Folarin Balogun is out on loan, but is still contracted to the Gunners.

In fact, Balogun, 21, has netted seven more goals than Wahi in Ligue 1 this season, during his loan spell at Stade Reims. The Englishman is currently joint-top of the Ligue 1 goal-scoring charts, along with Jonathan David and Kylian Mbappe, after an electric start to life under Will Still.

Due to the presence of Jesus and Nketiah, Balogun has already been linked with a permanent move away this summer, so a pursuit of Wahi seems slightly bizarre from Arsenal's perspective.

Wahi currently has an ETV of €17.6 million.