Man United to sign Ayden Heaven as Gunners prepare to lose ANOTHER academy star

Manchester United are closing in an agreement to sign Arsenal wonderkid Ayden Heaven.

Heaven, 18, is touted as one of the Gunners' brightest academy prospects having risen through the club's youth ranks.

However, the central defender is out of contract at the end of the season and Mail Sport reported last week how Arsenal were trying to convince Heaven to sign a new contract amid an enquiry from United.

Heaven has made just one competitive first-team appearance for the Gunners - a cameo against Preston in the Carabao Cup - but he has regularly been involved in first team training.

The left-footed defender, who has also attracted interest from Eintracht Frankfurt, has similarly made the bench for three Premier League games this season.

United are set to complete a deal for Heaven, with an agreement in the process of being sealed after he turned down Arsenal's offer of a professional deal following a contract stand-off. The club consider him a first-team signing, sources said.

The 18-year-old rejected Frankfurt's approach and he is now set to undergo a medical with the Red Devils after a modest fee was agreed given his scholarship terms expire in the summer.

The England youth international was spotted at Old Trafford for United's 2-1 victory over Rangers on Thursday and this move follows Sir Jim Ratcliffe's aim to prioritise and sign the best young, homegrown talent in the country.

Heaven's potential departure is a major blow for Arsenal, which comes just months after United also signed 17-year-old striker Chido Obi-Martin from the club.

The Danish wonderkid is viewed as one of the hottest prospects in the country having scored 32 goals for the Gunners' Under 18 side last season.

His transfer was eventually completed in October after legal issues initially delayed the move and he has since scored nine goals in seven games for United's Under 18 team.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had previously talked up Heaven's qualities after he shone during a victory against United in pre-season.

'Very impressive,' the Spaniard said. 'At 17, I don't know how many players are able to do that on a stage like this.

'He's lost a duel against one of the strongest and fastest players in the world [Rasmus Hojlund], it can happen, but the reaction afterwards, the composure, the quality, the body language that he had were all remarkable. I'm really happy with him.'

Speaking more widely on Heaven and fellow youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, Arteta added: 'Myles has played a lot of minutes, Ethan as well, Aiden [Heaven] as well in pre-season.

'It’s given us a big platform for them to understand how good they are and the options that we have in the squad right now and they’ll certainly be training with us.

'What I love the most is their attitude, their personality, how much they want it, the way they were competing in training.

'We throw them in very difficult circumstances and it was a great test to see where they are and they are going to be in a good place.’