Manchester United and Arsenal are locked in a frantic deadline-day transfer battle to sign Leicester City’s 18-year-old sensation Louis Page before tonight’s 11pm deadline. The Red Devils face a race against time as Leicester demand an unrefusable offer.
The clock is ticking down relentlessly toward tonight’s 11pm cutoff, turning this transfer chase into high-stakes deadline drama. Manchester United have actively tracked the 18-year-old midfielder all summer, viewing him as one of the brightest talents outside the top flight. Page earned EFL Apprentice of the Year honors last season and already has 25 senior appearances under his belt. But sealing the paperwork before midnight presents a monumental hurdle. Leicester are in action tonight against Plymouth Argyle in League One, leaving Fox chiefs balancing matchday duties with frantic phone negotiations.
Arsenal are now threatening to hijack the deal right from under Old Trafford noses. The Gunners have placed enormous emphasis on elite youth additions, famously raiding United for starlets James Scanlon and Habeeb Ogunneye just last week. Those signings continued a relentless youth recruitment drive following 16-year-old Vincent Joseph’s arrival from Liverpool, alongside Mylo Bernard, Elijah Upson, and Igor Tyjon. But Arsenal know deadline day cuts both ways. They suffered major transfer frustration earlier this summer when 17-year-old Jeremy Monga snubbed North London to complete a £10m move to Manchester City under Enzo Maresca.
Aston Villa are also long-time admirers watching the drama unfold. However, Leicester are holding all the leverage and refuse to budge unless forced. The Leicester Mercury understands that “United, Arsenal or any other interested club will need to make an offer that would be impossible for Leicester to turn down at this stage to get a deal done.” Unless a Premier League heavyweight launches a jaw-dropping bid before the 11pm deadline, Page will remain a Foxes player and could even feature on the pitch tonight.
