Leaders Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday when they host high-flying Sunderland at The Emirates.
The Gunners were held to a 2-2 draw by the Black Cats back in November, and a recent run of just one win from their last four games in the competition has seen their lead at the top cut to six points.
They followed up a convincing 4-0n win against Leeds United in their last league outing with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday evening, however, and manager Mikel Arteta will hope to see his side build on that performance when they host Sunderland.
In the meantime, it appears that Arsenal are one of four huge Premier League clubs chasing a Championship youngster.
As per TEAMtalk, Arsenal are joined by Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea in showing interest in Middlesbrough forward Cruz Ibeh.
The report claims that the Gunners and the Blues are both pushing hard to sign the 17-year-old, who made his debut in Boro’s 3-1 FA Cup defeat at the hands of Premier League side Fulham.
Ibeh has attracted interest from some of the Premier League’s biggest sides (Photo: MI News & Sport/Alamy)
Ibeh is a product of Middlesbrough’s youth system and the report suggests that he is widely regarded as one of the most promising attacking players produced by the north east club in recent years.
The report suggests that, while Chelsea and Arsenal are showing the most significant interest in the teenager, both Liverpool and Manchester City are also monitoring his situation.
Middlesbrough have lost highly rated academy prospects – including Isaac Collinson, and twins Anton and Bailey Palmer – in recent months, and those in charge of the club will be reluctant to lose Ibeh too.
Considering the amount of interest the striker has attracted, though, and the size of clubs monitoring him, Middlesbrough may face a tough battle in trying to keep hold of the player.