Who is Yunus Musah? The USMNT Arsenal transfer target worth £40m Chelsea want to sign

Arsenal transfer news as the Gunners continue to line up midfielder reinforcements ahead of the summer transfer window

Arsenal are reportedly scouting Valencia and USMNT midfielder Yunus Musah ahead of the summer transfer window, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Musah is expected to leave the La Liga side at the end of the season due to their poor 2022/23 season. Ruben Baraja's side are currently 17th in the table with six games remaining, one place above the bottom three.

The 20 year-old has been linked with a host of clubs in the Premier League, but Romano has insisted that the Gunners are joined by Chelsea and Inter Milan in the race to sign the American at the end of the season.

“I’ve mentioned Arsenal and Chelsea’s interest in Yunus Musah and it is the case that they are following Musah since January; Inter as well,” he said.

“At the moment it’s just scouting and not advanced yet, but Musah has good chances to move this summer.”

With Arsenal keen to bolster Mikel Arteta's midfield options in the summer, football.london brings you the lowdown on the young midfielder.

The midfielder, who is capable of playing in a deep role or further up the field, made 18 appearances for the Gunners under-18s between 2017 and 2019 but never appeared for the first team.

Alongside his duties with Valencia Mestalla, Musah appeared in all six of the club's under-18s' UEFA Youth League group campaign, featuring against Chelsea and Ajax.

The arrival of Javi Gracia in the summer of 2020 was the perfect pathway to the senior team at the Mestalla. After spending pre-season with the likes of Goncalo Guedes, Carlos Soler, Eliaquim Mangala and Gabriel Paulista, Musah made his senior debut at 17 years and eight months against Levante - becoming the first Englishman and American to debut for Valencia.

That season, the midfielder missed only seven La Liga games and scored his first goal in November against Getafe. His performances in Spain resulted in Gregg Berhalter handing him his USA debut at 17.

Since then, Musah has been a constant throughout Valencia's team in the last two seasons. However, due to the club's dire financial situation and their poor showing this campaign, his future looks set to be away from Valencia.

On the international stage, Musah is a regular. After representing England youth teams from under-15s to under-19s, Musah went on to accept a call-up to the USMNT in November 2020.

England boss Gareth Southgate admitted to trying to persuade Musah to switch his allegiance to the Three Lions. "We're monitoring him," he said in 2021. "He's been with us in the last couple of months and we'd very much like his future to be with us."

However, Musah committed his future to the United States and was a key player in their route to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Musah's contract at Valencia doesn't expire until 2026, meaning Arsenal would have to cough up around £40million for his services if they decided to reunite him with former teammate Bukayo Saka.

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