"Selling club" - Reaction given as Arsenal chase Blackburn Rovers transfer deal | OneFootball

FLW spoke to their resident Blackburn pundit about Arsenal's rumoured interest in Harvey Higgins.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Arsenal have long been known for their dedication to nurturing young talent, and their latest target appears to be Blackburn Rovers' rising star, Harvey Higgins.

The 16-year-old has already attracted a number of clubs with his goalscoring prowess and according to journalist Alan Nixon on Patreon, Arsenal are now considering him as part of their long-term planning.

It would cost Mikel Arteta’s side £1.5 million in compensation to secure the youngster’s services, with the striker drawing direct comparisons to Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy.

Despite being just 16, he is already a regular in training with the under-21 side and made his debut for them in 2023, scoring in a thrilling 4-4 draw against Lancashire rivals Preston North End.

Having watched fellow academy graduates David Raya and Adam Wharton go on to achieve success in the Premier League, a move to the North London club could prove an enticing prospect for him.

Blackburn expected to sell Harvey Higgins

To get an Ewood Park point of view on Higgins' potential departure to the Emirates, Football League World spoke to their resident Rovers fan, Simon Middlehurst, who expressed his expectation that Higgins will depart for Arsenal, given the club’s history of losing young talent to top-flight sides.

"Previously, we had a player, Rory Finneran - he was the youngest ever player at 15 to play for the Blackburn first team a couple of years ago, and he got signed by Newcastle," Middlehurst told FLW.

"It is a difficult one because Blackburn is a selling club - we've always been seen as a selling club. If you listen to interviews with previous managers, we've never really been a club that signs players and keeps them on. We've signed players, they do well, and we sell them on.

"Ideally, we want to keep our young players, we want to see them develop, come through the academy, and play for the first team. But when a Premier League club like Arsenal - who have such a rich history of developing young players themselves - comes in, it would be an opportunity too good for Harvey to turn down.

"I can't see Blackburn doing much to keep him. We want to see young players staying, but Arsenal - a club with a great history of developing players - would be a step-up for him."

Arsenal won't be alone in their Higgins interest

As Middlehurst suggested, Higgins is likely to be sold by Blackburn, though whether Arsenal will be his destination remains to be seen.

The Gunners, of course, boast a renowned academy, but other Premier League sides are also expected to show interest. Beyond England, it is already understood that Serie A clubs are eyeing a move for the striker, who can run 100 metres in just 11.01 seconds - an astonishing feat for a 16-year-old.

His signing is set to be highly sought-after, and if Arsenal do manage to secure his signature, they will have a future star on their hands.