Arsenal are reportedly running the rule over Stoke City sensation Jaden Dixon after making an approach to sign the fledgling defender on transfer deadline day.
The January window slammed shut without the Gunners bringing in any new players, a risk that has backfired horribly following injuries to Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, the latter of whom is out for the season.
Arsenal will be especially active in the attacking department this summer after keeping their chequebook closed over the winter, but even though Mikel Arteta has fewer concerns at the back, reinforcements could still be sought.
The Gunners may have to fend off intense competition from Real Madrid to keep hold of William Saliba, while Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney - whose summer return to Celtic has been confirmed - could all be on the way out.
Meanwhile, the luckless Takehiro Tomiyasu is reportedly set to undergo an operation on a troubling knee injury, and his contract only runs until next summer, albeit with the option of another 12 months.
Who is Arsenal-linked Jaden Dixon?
© Imago
The Gunners also lost the youthful Ayden Heaven to Manchester United during the last transfer window, but according to Football Insider, Stoke's Dixon is now on their radar.
The 17-year-old - who was born just a few weeks after Arsenal's Hale End starlet Ethan Nwaneri - formerly represented the Gunners' bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur before joining the Potters in 2023.
Dixon has already made six appearances for the senior Stoke side in all competitions, starting all four of their EFL Cup games this term as the Potters reached the fourth round, thrashing Middlesbrough 5-0 en route.
Dixon also came off the bench in two Championship matches against Watford and Plymouth Argyle in August, and he has played as both a centre-back and right-back for the first team already.
At international level, the 2007-born protege has won seven caps for England's Under-18s, and he signed his first professional Stoke deal - which runs until 2027 - last year.
Gunners 'submitted enquiry' for Dixon on deadline day
© Imago
Dixon was apparently the subject of an enquiry from the Gunners on deadline day during the January window, as they were keen to directly replace Man United-bound Heaven before the market shut.
While that contact went nowhere, the report adds that Arsenal are still casting a watchful eye over Dixon's displays and could try again for the teenager during the summer transfer window.
Arsenal have lost a few talented academy starlets in recent times, namely Heaven, Chido Obi Martin, Amario Cozier-Duberry and Reuell Walters, but Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have made stellar breakthroughs in 2024-25.
The latter is believed to be on the radar of England head coach Thomas Tuchel ahead of a possible March call-up, having usurped new signing Riccardo Calafiori to become Arteta's first-choice left-back.
Ben Knapton
