Lesley Ugochukwu Faces Rennes’ High Hurdle In Link With Arsenal

Stade Rennes of France defender, Lesley Ugochukwu is facing a high hurdle in his hope of a summer move to Arsenal of England, as top shots at his French Ligue 1 club do not want him to leave.

Megasportsarena.com reports that the hierarchy at Rennes continue playing hardball over the ambitions of Ugochukwu, who turned 18 on Saturday, even as the youngster’s link with Arsenal keeps getting stronger.

The Gunners’ fellow-London-based English Premier League rivals, Tottenham Hotspur have also been keeping tabs on Ugochukwu, who is the nephew of former Super Eagles defender, Onyekachi Apam.

However, Arsenal are reportedly currently in pole position to get Ugochukwu, who is blessed with excellent physical attributes and has been likened to ex-Gunners’ skipper, Patrick Vieira.

It is another fillip for the France youth international, who has eight games with s the country’s under-18 team in friendly matches, most recently against Germany, though he had earlier been eager to play for Nigeria at the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup.

All this, though, comes less than a year after Rennes sealed a new, improved contract with the 18-year-old Ugochukwu, who has been at Roazhon Park since 2012 and made his professional debut in 2021.

Ugochukwu, who gained rapid promotion from the club’s youth ranks, made his senior debut in April 2021 at home against Dijon, following which he got a year’s contract extension that runs until 2024.

In the current season, the central midfielder has been involved in 17 matches across all competitions for Rennes and scored his first senior goal against Saint-Étienne in December.

However, considering that Ugochukwu has been on the books of Rennes for a decade and has approximately two years left to run on his current contract, the Brittany club are reluctant to let him go.

A report by L’Equipe added: Arsenal chiefs have likened Ugochukwu to their former captain Patrick Vieira.

“The Gunners have been scouting the youngster this season (but) Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham are also interested in the teen.

“(However), for their part, Rennes management aren’t actively seeking to sell Ugochukwu this summer.”