Manchester United are reportedly planning a sensational raid on rivals Arsenal for teenage prodigy Ethan Nwaneri.
In a development that echoes the bitter departure of Robin van Persie More than a decade ago, reports suggested the Gunners could be forced to sacrifice one of their brightest talents to comply with financial regulations, with Man United ready to pounce.
Manchester United consider shock move for Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri
According to explosive claims from a reliable source on X, Manchester United have identified Ethan Nwaneri as the main target of the next transfer window.
According to him, Arsenal are under significant pressure to sell a valuable asset to fund their future goals and remain compliant with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
He highlights a potential domino effect at Old Trafford to facilitate the transfer. In a twist that will stun the United faithful, fan favorite Kobbie Mainoo could be ‘sold or loaned out’ if the ‘unthinkable’ Nwaneri deal goes through.
Current Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is said to be a “big admirer” of the 18-year-old midfielder and wants to bring him to the Theater of Dreams. The situation would be made worse by the player’s own discontent.
Despite his high potential, sources claim Nwaneri is “fed up” and believes his “career has stalled” due to the lack of playing time in north London.
EXCLUSIVE BOMB? ABANDONED:
THIS TRANSFER WINDOW IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE – DID YOU SEE IT HERE FIRST, PRESS THIS FOLLOW BUTTON TO GET TRANSFER NEWS? FIRST OF ALL
We understand @Arsenal need to sell a valuable player to fund its future goals due to financial rules.
MANCHESTER UNITED ALREADY… pic.twitter.com/SIM7wfLLMl
– Indykaila News (@indykaila) December 9, 2025
Chelsea tried to sign Nwaneri this summer
This is not the first time Nwaneri’s future has been the subject of intense speculation. Chelsea have long been interested in the Hale End graduate.
The Blues pursued Nwaneri aggressively in the summer of 2025, attempting to lure him across London with promises of immediate first-team integration.
However, Arsenal managed to rebuff the approach at the time. In August 2025, the club announced that Nwaneri had committed his future to the Gunners, signing a new long-term contract intended to keep him at the Emirates until 2030.
The fact that the player is now unsettled just months after signing this deal adds a layer of shock to these emerging links with Manchester United.
Recent transfers between Manchester United and Arsenal
If the move goes through, it would undoubtedly be the most controversial transfer between the two clubs since Robin van Persie swapped the Emirates for Old Trafford in 2012.
The decision, which saw the Dutchman fire United to their 20th league title, remains a sore point for Arsenal fans.
If direct transfers between the two English giants have been rare, the path is not completely closed.
Over the past decade, several high-profile names have broken the barrier:
- Ayden Heaven (Arsenal to Man United – 2024/25): The young defender made a quiet switch from Arsenal U21s to Manchester United last season.
- Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal to Man United – January 2018): The Chilean striker joined United in a swap deal, although his time in Manchester failed to live up to the hype.
- Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Man United to Arsenal – January 2018): The Armenian midfielder took the opposite route in the Sanchez deal, joining Arsenal.
- Danny Welbeck (Man United to Arsenal – 2014): Despite being just over a decade ago, the Manchester-born striker’s transfer to Arsenal on deadline day remains one of the most significant modern transfers between the rivals.
