Club announcement sends fans into meltdown over Arsenal's Martinelli heir

Tom Weber

• Updated: 23 Jan 2024 20:21 GMT
• 3 min read

Fans of Ligue 2 side Angers have convinced themselves that the club's biggest talent, Jean-Matteo Bahoya, is headed for the exit, with Arsenal among the sides interested in the winger.

The 18-year-old attacker has burst onto the scene in the French second division this term, stealing the show on more than one occasion for high-flying Angers with his five goals and two assists in 19 outings. The youngster also featured ten times in Ligue 1 last season.

His showings this term have reportedly been attracting big-name attention, with the likes of AC Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt and VfB Stuttgart among the sides keeping track of his development in France. However, one club supposedly interested in his services stands out.

According to L'Equipe, Arsenal are also keen on Bahoya, who has been billed in Gunners circles as a potential long-term heir - or understudy - to Gabriel Martinelli. Fans of Bahoya's club are convinced that he's already on the exit ramp.

Bahoya to leave?

It has been claimed that the 18-year-old could be on the move this month and the latest squad announcement from Angers certainly suggests that this could be the case. Bahoya was not included in the team to face Quevilly-Rouen in Ligue 2 this evening (Tuesday).

This has led to Angers fans believing that their worst fears have come true, with one replying to the official club account on X: "There's no more Bahoya, that's it, he's leaving." Another supporter wrote: "It's over for Bahoya."

However, the fans' pessimism appears to be justified, though that is not necessarily good news for Arsenal. According to a fresh report from L'Equipe, it is not the Gunners but Frankfurt who are the closest to snapping up the highly-rated attacker.

The Eagles are said to have reached an agreement in principle on a deal in excess of €10 million with Angers. Bahoya, it is claimed, will join the Bundesliga side in the coming days.