HERE WE GO! Fabrizio Romano CONFIRMS transfer hijack in Arsenal battle with Tottenham for wonderkid

Suraj Radia

2 Feb 2026 17:43 GMT
4 min read

Arsenal have had a deadline day transfer hijacked by bitter rivals Tottenham, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that Mikel Arteta’s side have missed out on an in-demand wonderkid.

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The Gunners have had a quiet January transfer window after a busy summer, although midfield options are still being explored after Mikel Merino’s injury ahead of the 7pm deadline on Monday.

Arsenal have also been keen to bring in young talent and they had been in talks with Hearts over striker James Wilson but the 18-year-old is now set to join Tottenham instead.

Current ETV

James Wilson

F (C)

Hearts

James Wilson

F (C)

Hearts

ETV Range

€2M - €2.9M

According to Romano, Arsenal had made a trial offer for Wilson but Tottenham have made the breakthrough by submitting a loan bid with an option to make the move permanent.

Wilson is now set for a medical after Hearts boss Derek McInnes had confirmed ‘conversations’ with Arsenal, telling Sky Sports: “If any player goes out, it would have to be of a benefit to the club. He is a young player, he has been restricted with minutes this season. It’s tough to get in somebody’s first-team at that age, and obviously James had a bit more exposure last season. He is such a good kid, he trains well.

“Would we see the benefit of a loan? Potentially yes. For him to go and get some minutes. This one was a wee bit left-field, what came yesterday from Arsenal, from their development squad. Those conversations with Arsenal were yesterday and we have heard nothing back from Arsenal today. So I don’t know where that would be.”

Arsenal eye wonderkid deal as Tonali agent rubbishes talk

However, Arsenal could secure a deal for St Mirren youngster Evan Mooney before the deadline amid reports that the 18-year-old is already in North London for a medical.

Talks are understood to have been opened over a move for Mooney that would see the forward join Arsenal’s developmental squad, although it remains to be seen if a deal can be completed.

One move that won’t be happening before the January transfer window closes is Sandro Tonali leaving Newcastle for Arsenal after reports that the Italian’s agent had offered the midfielder to Arteta’s side.

© IMAGO - Sandro Tonali was linked with a shock deadline day transfer from Newcastle to Arsenal.

“I read it, but Newcastle won’t let Sandro leave in January, and we never talked to Arsenal about this,” Tonali’s agent Beppe Riso told Sky Italia.

“We will evaluate in March whether Newcastle are open to anything, but right now he is playing in the Champions League, it is not the right moment to talk about it.”

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