Arsenal are closing in on a double transfer raid on Manchester United's academy, with young talents James Scanlon and Habeeb Ogunneye poised to make the move across England.
According to reports, the Gunners are confident of finalising a deal for Scanlon, with personal terms not expected to present any obstacles. A breakthrough has also been made in negotiations for his United team-mate Ogunneye, who is scheduled to undergo a medical on Thursday, with an official announcement anticipated over the weekend. Ogunneye is expected to link up with Arsenal's U21 squad initially, while also being given opportunities to train alongside the first team in hopes of impressing manager Mikel Arteta.
Scanlon, 19, is a versatile attacker capable of playing on either wing or in an attacking midfield role. Born in Leicester, he has represented Gibraltar at senior international level on 24 occasions, a nation he qualifies for through his mother. He etched his name into UEFA Nations League history in September 2024, becoming the competition's youngest-ever goalscorer at 17 years and 346 days when he found the net in a 2-2 draw with Liechtenstein.
A graduate of the Derby County academy, Scanlon switched to Manchester United in February 2021, progressing through the youth ranks before establishing himself in the U18 side within a year. The 2023-24 campaign proved pivotal for his development, as he featured in the UEFA Youth League, made U21 appearances, and was called into first-team training by then-manager Erik ten Hag, before putting pen to paper on his first professional contract in May 2024.
Although Scanlon was named in a Manchester United matchday squad for the first time ahead of a Europa League fixture against Real Sociedad in March 2025, he has not yet made a senior appearance for the club. He spent the latter half of last season on loan at Swindon Town, turning down interest from several European clubs to join the League Two outfit, where he scored once in six appearances as the Robins finished ninth, narrowly missing out on the play-offs by a single point.
Ogunneye, who is slightly older than his prospective Arsenal team-mate, also came through United's youth system, making his U18 debut at just 15 years old. Born in Hackney, he operates as a right-back with an attacking instinct and gained further first-team experience last season during a loan spell at Newport County. The 20-year-old made 21 appearances across all competitions for the Welsh club, featuring in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
In a notable twist, Ogunneye previously faced an Arsenal U21 side that included Marli Salmon during an EFL Trophy match last season while on loan at Newport, conceding a penalty from which Andre Harriman-Annous scored to level the score.
Ogunneye's rise has also attracted attention on the international stage, where he currently finds himself at the centre of a tug-of-war between England and Nigeria. He is eligible to represent Nigeria through birth and heritage, while England U21 head coach Lee Carsley has reportedly identified him as a potential future talent for the Three Lions. No decision on his international future has yet been made public.
Should both deals be completed as expected, Arsenal will add two promising young talents to their ranks, further strengthening their pipeline of emerging players as they continue to invest in the club's long-term future.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.