Arsenal and Tottenham’s race for Scotland teenager James Wilson – the most unlikely deadline-day saga

After Eberechi Eze’s eleventh-hour rejection of Tottenham in favor of his boyhood club Arsenal last summer, the next transfer tussle between the two north London rivals is unlikely to come this soon.

Certainly not against a Hearts striker who has only played 77 minutes in the Scottish Premiership this season.

But that’s what happened on Monday, as 18-year-old James Wilson was thrust into the spotlight, taking on an unlikely leading role on transfer deadline day.

As storylines go, perhaps this wasn’t the name Sky Sports News planned to appear on the yellow ticker for 12 hours. Then again, an attacking merry-go-round involving Jean-Philippe Mateta, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Adam Armstrong is not box office cinema at all.

Arsenal inquired about Wilson on Sunday, with a view to adding him to their under-21 squad on loan until the end of the season, when the deal would be made permanent. This would allow the club to evaluate him closely while giving the player an extended period to decide if it was also a good fit for his career. It was essentially a “try before you buy” deal.

But Arsenal were considering whether to recall one of their players who was no longer on loan, in which case Wilson might not be needed.

Tottenham’s interest was equal and they were able to reach a more concrete deal in the final hours of the window. The plan is similar in that Wilson will initially join on loan, but rather than impose the rule on the player, they have agreed a formal option to buy with Hearts. If triggered this summer, it would be a seven-figure fee with add-ons and a sales percentage also negotiated.

Wilson was one of two Scottish teenagers to join the English Premier League on deadline day. Unlike Wilson, St Mirren striker Evan Rooney has moved to Hale End, joining Premier League 2 side Arsenal in a deal worth around £400,000, which comes with add-ons and a sell-on percentage on top.

The departures will be tough to swallow for supporters, with significant sums banked, but two local lads quit before they had the chance to flourish. And not even for the glamor of a Premier League first team, for their youth team.

This sense of dissatisfaction goes to the heart of a problem that Scottish football is struggling to solve: how to get its best youngsters in place early enough to maximize their development, while not losing them cheaply to their southern neighbors.

Since Brexit was finalized in 2020, the flight of teenage talent to England has accelerated. Overnight, with the European market banned until the age of 18, Scotland became the main water to fish in due to being part of the United Kingdom.

Over time, most Scottish clubs have come to accept that they are indefensible at 16, as players are free to leave for training compensation before signing a professional contract.

This is why they often allow 15-year-old academy talent to train with interested English clubs, as an amicable decision means they often receive higher remuneration than what is stipulated in the rules.

But Wilson and Mooney are different because they are 18 years old and integral members of both first teams.

The initial plan for Wilson to leave on loan with no obligation to buy seemed odd given the attention he received at 16, which Hearts were able to combat. Especially since he has played 45 matches for the first team and is already selected for the Scotland national team.

But his progress has stagnated this season. He has only made 10 appearances in all competitions this year and his last league start came in August when he was hooked at half-time in a 3-3 draw against St Mirren.

Hearts are set to topple the Old Firm duopoly that has existed since 1985 – leading Celtic and Rangers by six points with 14 games remaining – and Wilson finds himself behind Pierre Kabore, Elton Kabangu, Claudio Braga and new signing Rogers Mato in the pecking order. Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland is also expected to return in around six weeks.

“He’s a young player and he’s been limited on minutes this season,” his manager Derek McInnes told Sky Sports News.

“It’s difficult to get into someone’s first team at that age, and obviously James had a bit more exposure last season.

“He’s such a good boy, he’s training well. Would we see the benefit of a loan? Potentially yes. For him to get a few minutes. This one was a little bit to the left…”

Some will think the youngsters should turn down their interest, but neither are getting regular playing time. Mooney has played 23 times this season and featured in the Paisley club’s League Cup triumph over Celtic in December, but he only makes appearances off the bench.

If Scottish clubs can’t offer them that, it will be difficult to turn down the prospect of top-class facilities, improved money and a better guarantee of a professional career.

The number of young Scottish players participating in the Premiership is incredibly low, so accelerating the treatment of the few players who play senior minutes has become the strategy.

Mooney follows Callan Hamill to Arsenal, who left St Johnstone at 16 this summer. Meanwhile, Wilson will have former Celtic prospect Conall Glancy for company at Tottenham.

You can be sure they won’t be the last.