16-year-old prodigy Maxime Lopez has already played for the French Under-19 side and reports out of France suggest that all four clubs have already approached the players representative about a move.
Lopez is currently part of Marseille’s youth set-up and has impressed in the UEFA Youth League this season.
Lopez won’t be able to sign professional terms at the club until he turns 17 later this year and Marseille are worried that the interest for England will prevent the talent ever turning out for Marseille at senior level.
Marseille are ready to offer Lopez a five-year deal that guarantees him first team football – and the subsequent bump in wages – within two years.
But the French club admit that even that may still not be enough.
A source close to the club told La Provence: “If a foreign club offers €20,000 per month to a 16-year-old kid, plus a stake to the parents, what can you do?
“This is the law of the football business, but we hope he’ll choose with his heart.”
Lopez certainly fits the profile of some of Arsenal’s big signings in recent times, but the Gunners look certain to face tough competition from Chelsea, City and Liverpool as the race for the youngsters signature hots up.
Written by Steve Milne