Arsenal fighting Premier League rivals to sign £20m-rated teen after position change saw him compared to Michael Essien
ARSENAL are keeping tabs on a rising star who has been compared to Chelsea legend Michael Essien, it is claimed.
The Gunners, however, face competition from Premier League opponents Bournemouth ahead of the January transfer window.
According to The Mail, north Londoners are eyeing Nordsjaelland ace Caleb Yirenkyi who is having an impressive season in Denmark.
Arsenal view the young prospect as a prospect for the future, while Bournemouth view him as a player who can immediately join manager Andoni Iraola’s fold, as other uncut gems have done in the past.
And Yirenkyi, 19, is currently valued at £20million, which would make him a bargain.
The Ghana international reached new heights this season when he was moved to the midfielder position.
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The youngster started as a right midfielder and even played right back on his international debut in May,
However, Nordsjaelland manager Jens Fonsskov Olsen transformed him into a defensive midfielder.
And it took place under the watchful eye of Yirenkyi’s legendary compatriot Essien, 42, who works as the Danish team’s assistant coach.
The Ghanaian ace’s transformation to number 6 was so impressive that it eventually led to fans and pundits comparing him to the Chelsea great.
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And the versatile midfielder admits that Essien’s presence in the team has played an important role in his development.
Yirenkyi previously said: “Michael Essien has an impact on every player. He helps everyone at Nordsjaelland, we learn a lot from him.”
The teenage sensation has one goal and two assists in 16 appearances in all competitions this season.
This represents a total of three goals and four assists in 34 appearances he has recorded since joining Nordsjaelland from Ghanaian side Right to Dream, who are a sister club to his current team, in 2024.