ARSENAL have renewed the contract of highly-rated youngster Marcelo Flores, reports suggest.
Flores currently plays on loan at Real Oviedo in Spain’s second division and shows huge promise.
The attacking midfielder’s deal was set to expire in June and he attracted plenty of interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
According to the Evening Standard, however, the Gunners have extended the 19-year-old’s contract for another two years.
The North Londoners have triggered a clause included in Flores’ previous deal that allows them to keep him until 2025.
Arsenal did the same with fellow rising star Charlie Patino’s contract earlier this season.
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Manager Mikel Arteta sees potential in Flores, who is already a Mexico international with three caps under his belt.
That is despite the fact the Mexican hasn’t played a single game with Arsenal at senior level.
The talented teenager trained with the first team in the past and was named on the bench against Crystal Palace last April.
Arteta and sporting director Edu are already planning ahead for the future amid their first Premier League title challenge since 2004.
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Arsenal are heavily focused on recruitment after two successful transfer windows that saw the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho and Leandro Trossard elevate the team.
Flores is one of many young players Arteta could invest in next season.
Another youngster that has made a strong case for the senior squad is Folarin Balogun, 21, who is shining bright while on loan at Reims and has scored more goals than Lionel Messi and Neymar in Ligue 1.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
