The battle for the next great thing in world football has a distinct Premier League flavour to it. If you were under the impression that the summer wi...
The battle for the next great thing in world football has a distinct Premier League flavour to it. If you were under the impression that the summer window was all but buttoned up, think again. GoalZaza can confirm that Arsenal have dramatically entered the fray for Gilberto Mora, the 17 year old attacking midfielder who has the scouting networks of Europe in a flat spin. And here is the rub for the Merseyside contingent: the Gunners are currently tabling a bid that comfortably outpaces what Liverpool have put on the table.Let's be perfectly clear about the calibre of player we are discussing. Mora is not just a talented teenager; he is the kind of player who makes you sit up and pay attention during a U17 international. He operates in those tight pockets of space between the lines, the areas where games are won and lost. His technical security under pressure is remarkable for a lad his age, and he has that rare instinct to play the killer pass before the defence has even registered the danger. For a side like Arsenal, who rely so heavily on intricate transitional play and quick combinations in the final third, you can immediately see why Mikel Arteta would want this boy in his ranks.Liverpool's interest has been an open secret for a few months now, with the Anfield recruitment team known to be admirers of his tactical flexibility. But if the figures floating around are accurate, Arsenal have decided that sentiment and building a relationship is one thing; putting your money where your mouth is quite another. They are not just matching the offer; they are bettering it. This is a statement of intent from the Emirates hierarchy, a clear signal that they are prepared to outmanoeuvre a direct rival for a player who could define the next decade.Of course, moving across the Atlantic at seventeen is a daunting prospect. The physical demands of English football can swallow up young talents who lack the mental fortitude. But Mora has something about him. He has that swagger, that belief that he belongs on the big stage. The question now is whether the financial muscle from north London is enough to convince his current club and his family that the path to stardom is best paved in red and white rather than red. This one has got legs, and it feels like it is heading for a conclusion sooner rather than later.
