Manchester United are still plotting moves in the market, despite their lack of a manager, with sights now set on a potential swoop for a striker Arsenal had their eyes on
Mikel Arteta during an Arsenal game
Arsenal could lose out on a transfer to their rivals Man United(Image: (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images))
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Manchester United are reportedly looking to enter the January transfer market with a potential swoop for a player Arsenal have been trying to sign for over a year.
According to The Sun, United are now looking to make a move for Blackburn Rovers youngster Igor Tyjon, with the 17-year-old likely to make a move this winter. The Gunners have been interested in a deal since the summer of 2024, having seen multiple bids worth over £1m rejected by the Championship outfit.
The January transfer window changes the outlook for Blackburn, the player and those teams chasing a move because he is nearing the end of his scholarship. Tyjon has turned down the chance to sign professional terms at Ewood Park in recent months, with the club now resigned to losing him.
January marks the last opportunity for Blackburn to receive a development fee for the young striker before losing him in the summer. If the Championship club leave it too long, then they will only be due compensation for the player in the summer, as he leaves free to sign on elsewhere.
The 17-year-old has made three senior appearances for Rovers, all of which came in the 2024/25 season, with two run-outs in the Championship and one in the EFL Cup. The forward, who has represented both England and Poland at youth international level, has largely continued his development with the academy sides this campaign.
Blackburn Rovers' Igor Tyjon plays during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers
Igor Tyjon has been linked with a move to Man United and Arsenal for the January transfer window(Image: (Photo by Trevor Wilkinson | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
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It's unclear how much Blackburn would be willing to accept for Tyjon, but it's a move that seems likely to strengthen the academy ranks of either United or Arsenal. It's a transfer opportunity that further underlines the long-term nature of the plans at both clubs, as well as the awkwardness of the January market as a whole.
For United, there is unlikely to be much business this window, with the attention shifting toward the summer instead. Given the lack of a manager and a clear identity as a result, moving toward younger signings for the future represents a low-risk option to land potential.
There may well be questions over the future of Chido Obi as a result, however. The young striker was involved in the senior team last season for United, as injuries struck the team, but his lack of minutes this season has brought about uncertainty over his place in the team.
"Chido is not always a starter in the under 21s," Ruben Amorim said when asked about a lack of minutes for Kobbie Mainoo, as he pointed towards the academy as a source of struggles. "All these guys played when a lot of people were saying: 'Sack the manager'. So, you can see that I'm not worried."
With Amorim's sacking now confirmed, it may well be that Obi is given more chances to shine in the near future, though there may be more competition with the possible arrival of Tyjon. As for Arsenal, it's clear that sporting director Andrea Berta is turning towards strengthening the academy.
Deals have already been sealed for Edwin and Holger Quintero from Independiente del Valle, as well as Victor Ozhianvuna from Shamrock Rovers. All three signings are 16, and won't be able to join until 2027, but it shows how quickly the Gunners have moved to build on their academy.
The north London club are at a point where they need to win now, having signed plenty of stars entering their peak, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze. Those players, mixed with some already at the club, will have little resale value when the end of their peak arrives.
Add to that the possibility of them all moving on at similar times, due to the general age profile of the squad, and there is a need to future-proof things. Having academy stars such as Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and Max Dowman helps them, but there are options out there to strengthen.
Adding Tyjon could bring another layer to that, with Arsenal lacking in striker options in the youth ranks - especially with Andre Harriman-Annous featuring in the senior side.
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