Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach have reportedly expressed an interest in signing Arsenal striker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.
The 21-year-old Hale End graduate is still waiting for his first-team debut, but he has made a handful of matchday squads this term and was on the bench for their 3-1 win over Southampton two weekends ago.
Butler-Oyedeji was also an unused substitute in Arsenal's opening two Champions League games of the season against Atalanta BC and Paris Saint-Germain, and he has enjoyed a productive start to the season with the Under-21s.
The 5ft 10in striker - who is also comfortable on the left-hand side - has scored five goals and provided two assists in five Premier League 2 games for the Arsenal Under-21s, whom he often captains.
However, his path to first-team action is currently blocked by Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, while Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Raheem Sterling can also fill in up top if required.
Monchengladbach 'send scouts' to watch Butler-Oyedeji
© Imago
According to Football Insider, Monchengladbach are among the teams to have sent scouts to run the rule over the 21-year-old in recent times, and he is said to have 'multiple top clubs' keeping tabs on his displays.
Even though he has not been handed a competitive debut under Mikel Arteta, Butler-Oyedeji is still believed to be highly-rated by Gunners staff, but he may now feel that it is the right time to leave the academy setup behind.
Monchengladbach are supposedly optimistic that the promise of regular first-team football will be enough to prise him away from his boyhood team, whom he has represented since joining in 2011 as an eight-year-old.
Butler-Oyedeji signed his first professional Arsenal contract in 2021, and the striker has also spent time on loan at Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham Town over the past couple of years.
However, both temporary spells were disappointing, as he failed to score or assist in 11 games for Accrington in the second half of 2022-23, before suffering the same fate in 14 appearances for Cheltenham in the first half of last season.
Butler-Oyedeji to follow Chido Obi Martin path?
© Imago
The report adds that Monchengladbach could soon make a formal bid to prise Butler-Oyedeji away from North London, but Arsenal are determined to resist interest in his services and give him first-team assurances.
However, the Gunners have already failed to convince a handful of talented prospects that their future lies at the Emirates, including 16-year-old sensation Chido Obi Martin, who was finally confirmed as a Manchester United player earlier this month.
Another highly-rated attacker - Amario Cozier-Duberry - left for Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer, while defender Reuell Walters turned down a new deal and joined Championship side Luton Town.
Seemingly determined to put a stop to the mass exodus of youngsters, Arteta has made Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly permanent fixtures of the first-team setup this season, as well as involving Jack Porter, Joshua Nichols, Ismeal Kabia and Maldini Kacurri in the EFL Cup crushing of Bolton Wanderers.
However, as competition for attacking places is already rife in the Arsenal setup, it would not be a surprise to see Butler-Oyedeji follow the same path as Obi Martin and head elsewhere.
Ben Knapton
