Arsenal starlet set for new contract as Mikel Arteta makes important pre-season decision
Exclusive: Arsenal are set to reward one of their highly-rated youngsters with a new long-term contract.
Arsenal youngster Ismail Oulad M'Hand is close to signing his first professional contract with the club, LondonWorld understands.
The 18-year-old, who describes himself as a ‘box-to-box midfielder’, is currently signed on scholarship terms after arriving on a free transfer from Feyenoord in January 2021.
Ismail is the younger brother of Arsenal's Salah-Eddine who himself is expected to be part of the Gunners’ pre-season tour this summer.
Under-18s coach Jack Wilshere has previously labelled Salah-Eddine as one of the most talented players in the club’s academy.
He’s currently recovering from injury and will most likely head out on loan for the 2023/24 season.
“I don’t want to tell you about a player who I think is really good then put pressure on him and it doesn’t work out,” Wilshere told the Evening Standard.
"But there’s a few in the academy. The fans will watch the under-23’s and know about Charlie Patino, who got his chance.
"But then there are other players out there, there’s a boy called Salah who is really good coming through. There’s a lot of players in that group who are technically very, very good."
Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Omar Rekik is also expected to go out on loan for the upcoming campaign, while winger Joel Ideho has been released by the club.
The Gunners had the option to extend Ideho’s contract for a further two years, but they have chosen not to exercise it due to the number of players in the current academy squad.