ARSENAL could have signed Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham and Christian Pulisic, a former club scout has revealed.
Steve Morrow headed the Gunners’ youth recruitment for almost a decade, during which a number of near misses passed by the club.
Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho ultimately ended up at Borussia DortmundCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Chelsea star Christian Pulisic was rejected by Arsenal before also heading to DortmundCredit: PA
Among them was Borussia Dortmund star Sancho, who interested Arsenal before he signed for Manchester City in 2015 and again two years later.
Morrow, 50, told Goal: “Every top club will say there were near misses.
“Jadon Sancho was certainly one of those.
“We missed out on him once when he moved from Watford and went up to Manchester City, and then again when he reached that age at City when young players have a choice to make.
“Jadon felt that his future was away from Manchester and we were very, very close to signing him, but the family felt at the time that the best opportunity for him was at Dortmund and off he went.”
Bundesliga giants Borussia have become famous for scouting out young talent but Morrow noted every top team’s extensive knowledge.
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Jude Bellingham signed for the German side last year amid huge competition for the Birmingham youngster.
Arsenal tracked the midfielder for some time and Morrow left in 2019 having attempted a deal with Bellingham before he broke out.
And Chelsea star Christian Pulisic is another who ended up at Dortmund, having arguably come even closer to signing for the club while on trial.
Former defender Morrow added: “There have been others. Jude Bellingham was another one that was very similar to that.
“When he came to the end of his contract at Birmingham City and was debating whether to stay there and sign a scholarship or move somewhere else, we were very close to that one as well.
“But sometimes it just doesn’t happen and you have to accept it.
I did see Pulisic’s potential but he was certainly behind physically in terms of the same age group with our boys.
Steve Morrow
“Through our connections in the States, Christian was one that I actually had over at London Colney as a 14-year-old.
“He came in and did quite well, but he was small and underdeveloped physically when he came to us.
“I did see his potential but he was certainly behind physically in terms of the same age group with our boys.
“I wanted to bring him back again, but it just didn’t work out and he went to Germany unfortunately.”
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Northern Irish scout Steve Morrow (centre) spent most of his time working under Arsene Wenger (right)Credit: Getty – Contributor
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
