Leicester City have turned down a £5 million offer from Arsenal for teenage sensation Jeremy Monga.
The 16-year-old has been coveted by both the Premier League champions and Newcastle United this summer, with the Foxes in need of sales in order to stave off more financial woes.
Gunners Rebuffed In Opening Attempt
Rumours have reported over the past week that Arsenal were gearing up to submit their first bid, and according to The Times, their opening offer of £5 million has been knocked back swiftly by Russell Martin’s side.
It is believed that Leicester are seeking double the Gunners’ opening bid, while also gaining a 15% sell on clause should Mikel Arteta’s side opt to cash in on the winger.
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Monga is yet to emerge as a true regular in his time at the King Power Stadium, largely playing as a backup to Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu in a season which saw City suffer a second straight relegation.
Making his debut at 15 in the Premier League, the Coventry-born winger has made 37 senior appearances over the past 18 months and scored his first-ever league goal against Preston North End.
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Now in League One, the Foxes face a major clearout, having already allowed Ricardo Pereira to leave as a free agent and sold Bilal El Khannouss to Stuttgart following the Moroccan’s season-long loan spell.
Arsenal face their own future dilemmas despite winning the Premier League, with question marks over whether Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli will continue at the Emirates with their contracts expiring in 12 months’ time.
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Leicester Seek Max Value
Since the emergence of their interest at the beginning of the summer, an eight-figure fee has been touted for Jeremy Monga in order for Arsenal to seal a deal.
However, it seems that the Gunners are now in search of a cut-price deal, submitting a lowball £5 million offer to Leicester City, perhaps with the intention to try and negotiate a price down.
With the 16-year-old only wanting to move to North London following brief interest from Newcastle United, both clubs should have plenty of time to discuss future demands.
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Given their role in his development, and expectation that he can go far, Leicester are right to hold firm against their valuation, which will go a long way to balance their books.
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