Arsenal and Manchester City could go head-to-head over a transfer target.placeholder image
Arsenal and Manchester City could go head-to-head over a transfer target. | Getty Images
Arsenal and Manchester City could be direct rivals again in the transfer market this summer
Arsenal and Manchester City are battling for the Premier League title at present, and the two clubs will hope to remain in for all the biggest prizes moving forward as a rivalry develops between Mikel Arteta and his former mentor Pep Guardiola.
Whether the Gunners win the league title this year could go a long way to reflecting whether Arteta has successfully climbed the mountain to oust the City boss from his domination of the Premier League, while Guardiola looks ever closer to calling time on his spell in England.
The two clubs will both hope to continue their own trophy-winning dynasty moving forward, with an increasing rivalry set also to appear in the transfer market as each club looks to take their squad to the next level. Rather surprisingly, there have not been too many high-profile cases of the two clubs going directly to war over a signing in recent seasons – but that could be about to change.
Arsenal and Man City lead the race for Brighton starlet
According to reports by Caught Offside, Arsenal and Man City are amongst the clubs interested in Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Jack Hinshelwood, who could become a transfer target for both sides ahead of the summer transfer window.
Hinshelwood has become a reliable performer for Brighton since coming through the club’s academy, making 68 first-team appearances by the age of still just 20. His versatility is also a striking quality, with the England Under-21 star equally comfortable playing in central midfield, defensive midfield or at right-back. He even scored twice while starting at striker in a 4-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of last season.
Hinshelwood has made 16 league appearances this season and boasts an 87% pass success rate, reflecting his supreme composure under pressure. He has been likened to James Milner, his current team-mate at Brighton, for his ability to perform at an equally high level across several positions.
Liverpool and Chelsea are said to view Hinshelwood as a ‘long-term investment’, but Arsenal and City are understood to be ‘leading admirers’. Brighton are reportedly set to demand between £39m-£48m for the services of their model academy product.
Hinshelwood a ‘mature head on young shoulders’
Both Arsenal and Man City are keen to develop young, home-grown players and that is reflected in their pursuit of Hinshelwood, who is showing great signs of potential to play at the very top in his Premier League career so far. While up to £48m would be a huge investment at this stage, such a demand reflects his high ceiling and Brighton’s strong selling power for their top talents.
Former Brighton defender Guy Butters recently told the Albion Unlimited podcast on Hinshelwood, as quoted by BBC Sport: "He’s grown up around the football environment with his family. His dad, uncles and granddad will have had a huge impact on him. He's come into the game naturally. It's not a surprise being around football players and around football stadiums.
"He's got a mature head on his shoulders. He's played very well this season. He can play in a number of positions, it's just trying to find out where he is best. He's played in central midfield and filled in at right back. For now, he is relishing playing in the number 10 role and having that leash off him to play with more freedom and go forward.”
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