Arsenal make Mathys Tel decision and look to reward breakthrough stars

Arsenal are unlikely to follow up their interest in Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel, reports in Germany claim, while the club are set to reward breakthrough youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri with new contracts.

The Gunners have been wanting to strengthen Mikel Arteta's frontline after losing Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus to injury, with a particular focus on signing a 'number nine' to help share the workload of Kai Havertz.

An outstanding 5-1 win over reigning Premier League champions Manchester City demonstrated Arsenal's firepower even without Saka, but they've been linked with a move for Tel ever since it became known that he'd being willing to consider a future away from Bayern.

Bayern's demands of Tel leaving either on loan with an obligation to buy or on a permanent transfer are thought to be the stumbling block for Arsenal, who do not want to commit to such terms at this stage. United have also failed to find a breakthrough in negotiations because of those demands.

19-year-old Tel has already rejected a move to Arsenal's rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are well down the Premier League table, and it's increasingly likely that he'll remain a Bayern player unless somebody is prepared to compromise, or unless Chelsea come back to the negotiating table after previously cooling their interest.

Elsewhere, Arsenal will prioritise new contracts for Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, Fabrizio Romano reports, with both now established first-team players for Arteta.

The teenagers were both on the scoresheet for Arsenal's demolition of City at the Emirates Stadium, building on past exceptional performances that they have put in in both the Premier League and Champions League.

Lewis-Skelly's emergence has kept summer signing Riccardo Calafiori out of the team at left-back - while seemingly ending the Arsenal career of Oleksandr Zinchenko - while Nwaneri has shown Saka-like talent in midfield after becoming the ninth-youngest goalscorer in Premier League history when netting in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in November.

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