footballfancast.com

Berta in talks: Arsenal launch bid to sign "silky" star who could be their next Dowman - opinion

If the present-day looks bright at Arsenal, then the future looks even brighter. It was once Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe who were breaking through the famous Hale End academy, but now it's record-breaker Max Dowman who is stealing the headlines.

At just 16 years old, he is beginning to take English football by storm and may yet have a part to play in the final seven Premier League games of what looks to be a title-winning campaign.

max-dowman-arsenal

The task for Andrea Berta is to now find even more young stars, who could shape a historic era of Arsenal dominance if they get their transfer business right.

Arsenal could sign another Dowman

With Pep Guardiola likely to bow out at the end of his contract next season, or perhaps even sooner this summer, Liverpool facing a decision over Arne Slot's future, Manchester United about to enter a new era for the umpteenth time, and Chelsea always likely to start fresh themselves, English football is set up for Arsenal to take full advantage.

Out of all the 'big six', it is the Gunners who look the most stable, the most sure of themselves and with Dowman coming through, they've got their next leading talisman.

Youngest goalscorers in Premier League history (Dowman, Vaughan timeless)

When the teenage talent raced through onto an empty net to become the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, it was shades of Wayne Rooney against Arsenal many moons ago. And if Dowman gets anywhere near Rooney's level, North London will be watching on in awe for years to come.

It's clear that the Gunners have their eventual replacement for Saka - perhaps sooner than they think. But what about elsewhere?

Well, according to MediaFoot in France, Arsenal have made an offer to sign Senny Mayulu from Paris Saint-Germain with Berta in talks to seal a summer deal.

Paris St Germain's Senny Mayulu in action with Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi

The 19-year-old's contract is up in 2027 and PSG could be forced to cash in at the end of the current campaign. That said, no club-to-club talks have yet taken place, with the Gunners merely proposing an offer to the player's representatives.

Why Mayulu could be a Dowman repeat

It would be a job well done if Berta looks around the Arsenal side in the coming years and spots Dowman, Mayulu, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Edwin and Holger Quintero all thriving. The sporting director clearly has a plan and adding the versatile PSG midfielder would be the first step of that plan this summer.

At just 19 years old, Mayulu already has a Champions League winners' medal to his name. In fact, he was one of the youngest players to feature in a Champions League final. He even scored in the process. It's safe to say he's been making headlines at a young age, exactly like Dowman.

This term, he is already playing a key role - starting 16 of PSG's 26 Ligue 1 games and five of their 12 Champions League games.

League stats 25/26 Mayulu Martin Odegaard

Minutes 1,218 1,078

Goals 3 1

Assists 4 5

Possession won final 3rd 16 14

Chances created 27 30

The numbers don't make for pretty reading if your name is Martin Odegaard. It's no secret that the Norwegian has struggled to find his best form this season and the arrival of Mayulu could end his Arsenal career.

Hailed as a "silky" player by Como scout Ben Mattinson, the PSG man is an all-rounder at the heart of midfield. He's been involved in more league goals than Odegaard and won possession more in the final third than the Arsenal captain.

If the Gunners are to have more success in open play, a player who presses as well as Mayulu certainly wouldn't go amiss and neither would his versatility.

Toulouse's Jaydee Canvot in action with Paris St Germain's Senny Mayulu

Like Dowman, the PSG star is extremely versatile. He can play in central midfield, attacking midfield and up front. By welcoming him with open arms this summer, Arteta would be killing three birds with one stone.

It's an opportunity that Arsenal cannot let pass them by. With the Frenchman set to become a free agent in 2027, there's a chance that they could land a bargain deal this summer if Berta gets it right. It would be one of the smartest moves of the window.

Declan-Rice-Arsenal-Leverkusen Related

[He could be Rice 2.0: Arsenal start talks to sign "future England captain"](https://www.footballfancast.com/arsenal-start-talks-to-sign-tino-livramento-rice-repeat/ "He could be Rice 2.0: Arsenal start talks to sign "future England captain"")

Fresh from their Carabao Cup final defeat, Arsenal have commenced talks to sign a Premier League star this summer.

Read full news in source page