Arsenal emerge as frontrunners to capture highly-rated 18-year-old Real Madrid target | OneFootball

According to a fresh update from Mundo Deportivo, Premier League club Arsenal have joined the race to secure the signature of Antonio Cordero, a highly sought-after forward who is also a target for Real Madrid.

Cordero, an 18-year-old talent playing for Malaga’s Under-19 team, has become one of the most promising players in Spain’s Second Division, attracting significant attention from top clubs across Europe.

It is to be noted that Cordero, known for his impressive performances this season, was previously linked with Barcelona last summer. However, Malaga made it clear that they were not interested in discussing a transfer at the time.

His agent, Pini Zahavi, who is also a close associate of Barcelona president Joan Laporta, sparked some initial interest. Real Madrid also showed an interest in the young forward but received the same response from the Andalusian club.

Contract expires in 2025

Now, with Cordero’s contract set to expire in 2025, the situation has become more complicated.

The player has not expressed a strong desire to renew his contract with Malaga, which opens up the possibility for negotiations to begin as early as January 1, 2025.

This has reignited interest from Real Madrid, who are eager to secure his services. However, it appears that Madrid faces fierce competition for the youngster’s signature.

Arsenal leading the race

Arsenal are currently viewed as the club with the best chance of landing Cordero, putting them in a strong position ahead of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and other major clubs like Manchester City, PSG, Juventus, and Aston Villa, who are all keeping a close watch on the situation.

Cordero is also remembered for scoring the decisive goal that helped Malaga secure promotion to Spain’s Segunda Division.

His performances have certainly caught the attention of top European clubs, making him one of the most exciting prospects in the market at the moment.

As January approaches, all eyes will be on the young forward to see where he will end up, with the 18-year-old being a potential game-changer for any club that successfully lands him.