Arsenal join race for 17-year-old Joelson Fernandes | OneFootball

Arsenal are one of the teams on the list of suitors for 17-year-old Sporting CP winger Joelson Fernandes, according to reports in Portugal.

Portuguese outlet Record report that Arsenal are one of a number of clubs from England and Germany currently following Joelson Fernandes.

Kia Joorabchian is working with the player, which Record claim could help him secure a move to the Premier League. That’s certainly pretty easy to believe, given Joorabchian’s current close links to Arsenal.

Sporting, on the other hand, want Joelson to sign a new contract with a €100m release clause. They’re clearly not happy about the idea of losing him for cheap. The player’s current contract reportedly lasts until 2022, at which point he’ll still be just 19.

The left-winger played in Sporting’s u23 team for most of this season, making 28 appearances. He scored five goals and assisted a couple, also occasionally featuring on the right.

With his country, Joelson is a Portuguese u17 international, playing and scoring in the European Championship qualifiers in November. His good performances with club and country drew interest from around Europe.

Given the two years left on his contract, this may not be one Arsenal push for right away. Unless Sporting are willing to sell cheap, it could be in the Gunners’ interest to let the contract run down while he continues his development.

If it’s a matter of buying now or watching him stick a €100m clause in his contract, however, we might see some more immediate progress.