Arsenal want to beat Chelsea to Aberdeen defender Lewis Carrol

Arsenal and Chelsea are leading the race for Aberdeen defender Lewis Carrol ahead of the summer transfer window, according to The Athletic.

The Blues have been keeping tabs on the 15-year-old for many months now, but the Gunners are ready to pip them to his services after recently coming into the picture.

Aberdeen wants to fast-track Carrol into their first-team given his huge potential and talent, but Arsenal hope to bring him to the Premier League ahead of next season.

Arsenal and Chelsea leading the race to sign 15yo Aberdeen defender Lewis Carrol.

Been told he will be fast-tracked into the first team at Pittodrie but both clubs looking at a summer transfer.

Compared to John Stones in style. Big talent.https://t.co/p87jpgUmHO

— Jordan Campbell (@JordanC1107) February 21, 2024

The defender is a ‘big talent’ who has earned comparisons with Manchester City defender John Stones due to his style of play, especially the ability to play out from the back and being comfortable in possession.

Carrol is eligible to sign a professional contract this year but will have to decide whether he wants to link up with Arsenal, where he will join the youth team or remain in the Scottish Premiership and start playing senior team football next season.

Their inability to sign players under 18 years of age due to Brexit has seen the Gunners and other English clubs focus on the internal UK market, with Scotland now a big market for them.

Carrol is widely regarded as one of the best teenagers North of the border, and Arsenal could be adding a serious player to their youth team if they end up pipping Chelsea to his services.

Carrol won the Neale Cooper award for Player of the Year for the under-15s back in December 2022 having already won it at under-12 level and has steadily progressed through the Aberdeen youth ranks since then.

He played a key role as the Young Dons won the Micasa Cup tournament in Norway that year, beating their RB Leipzig counterparts in the final having defeated Liverpool in the semi-final.

Calvin Ramsay fetched Aberdeen a decent transfer fee when he completed a move to Liverpool in 2022, and Carrol could be next if Arsenal decide to make a concrete move for him in the summer.