Brighton and Hove Albion have joined Chelsea in the race to land Arsenal hotshot Khayon Edwards.
The 18-year-old has been in flying form for the Gunners so far this season, scoring 17 goals and registering six assists in 22 appearances for the academy. Edwards has led the line for the under-18s for most of this campaign – scoring 16 at that level – but has also made two appearances for the under-23s.
The youngster's performances have caught the eye of several top clubs and Mirror Football can reveal that Brighton are among the admiring parties and have enquired about bringing the Englishman to the South Coast. Of course, the north Londoners are hoping that they can persuade the exciting prospect to remain at the club and sign his first professional deal.
According to Football.London, Chelsea have been keeping tabs on Edwards. European giants Feyenoord, RB Leipzig and Hertha Berlin have also been linked with the striker.
But Graham Potter will be hoping that the Seagulls' reputation for signing young talents and giving them the opportunity to thrive in their first team proves persuasive. Former Chelsea defender Tariq Lamptey and 20-year-old Moises Caicedo are two recent examples of how the club are bearing the fruit of their low-risk recruitment strategy.
And Arsenal will be hoping that Edwards isn’t another name that will be added to Brighton’s list of young stars, especially given their current striker situation. Mikel Arteta’s side are expected to be in the market for a centre forward in the summer as they are prepare to lose Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah – who are both out of the contract at the end of the season.
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Folarin Balogun will be an option once he returns from his loan move from Middlesbrough, though he hasn’t set the Championship under Chris Wilder and it would be quite the surprise to see the 20-year-old thrown into the deep end in the Premier League. Therefore, it could leave the door open for Edwards to push on and put himself on the fringes of the first team if he puts pen to paper on a new deal.
Arteta has shown that academy graduates can certainly transition into the first team, with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe evidencing that. However, given the Emirates Stadium outfit have aspirations of regaining their status as title contenders, the Spanish boss is expected to continue the revamp of his squad by purchasing a readymade no.9 to lead the line.
As well as a new striker, Arteta has made it clear that he wants Nketiah to be a part of his project going forward. However, the former Leeds loanee is reluctant to commit his future to Arsenal and is pondering his future.
