Real ‘discreetly’ add Gunners talent to list of future

Real Madrid are said to have added Arsenal youngster Max Dowman to their list of transfer targets, with the Spanish side keeping an eye on his development.

The Gunners will face fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday morning in a pre-season friendly, but the result means little compared to the importance of building fitness ahead 2025-26.

Head coach Mikel Arteta has utilised summer signings such as Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard in his side’s friendlies, and he has also given opportunities to teenager Dowman.

The 15-year-old excelled against Newcastle United on July 27, and many at the club hope that the Englishman can play a key role in Arsenal’s future success.

Fichajes report that Real Madrid have decided to keep track of Dowman’s development in England, but add that Los Blancos have no intention of bringing him to Spain in the near future.

Are Arsenal at risk of losing their key talents to Europe’s elite?

While Arteta will be confident of keeping Dowman at the Emirates, some supporters are fearful that their stars could leave unless the team start to win silverware.

The Gunners have not won a trophy since 2020, and they have finished second for three consecutive Premier League seasons, raising concerns about their ability to get over the line in crucial moments.

Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest in centre-back William Saliba, and with the defender only having two years left on his contract, he could be tempted to think about his future.

Elsewhere, talisman Bukayo Saka’s deal at Arsenal expires in the summer of 2027, and he is sure to come onto the radar of clubs if he does not sign an extension.

While Dowman may not be thinking about a move given his young age, Arteta will still want to bring him into a winning environment in order to encourage him to commit his long-term future to Arsenal.

What does Arsenal’s future with Dowman look like?

Dowman is capable of playing across the frontline, but he is arguably at his best when used in an attacking midfield role.

The teenager could be seen as the eventual successor to Martin Odegaard, and he could form part of an attacking unit that also features Ethan Nwaneri.

Nwaneri is also able to operate centrally, but he has been predominantly used by Arteta in a role on the right of attack.

Saka prefers to play as a right-winger, but if he was to leave Arsenal in the next few seasons, perhaps Nwaneri could fill his absence and mitigate his loss.

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