Newcastle and Saints want to nab Gunners youngster Gnabry on loan

Talented Arsenal teenage attacker Serge Gnabry is a reported loan target of Premier League top 10 hopefuls Newcastle United (5/4) and Southampton (11/8), according to the tabloids.

Germany Under-19 international Gnabry got plenty of first-team exposure at the Gunners last term, featuring twice in their successful FA Cup run and making a total of 14 appearances. Now, it appears Arsene Wenger is prepared to consider loaning him out to top-flight sides.

Following the arrival of Chile forward Alexis Sanchez at the Emirates, Gnabry is likely to find opportunities more limited, so it looks to be in Arsenal’s interest that his development continues elsewhere, albeit temporarily.

Although Alan Pardew has recruited heavily on Tyneside this summer, bringing in six new signings, Gnabry would be a welcome addition to the Magpies squad. Current wide options such as Gabriel Obertan, Jonas Gutierrez and Sammy Ameobi are on the fringes of the first-team picture, so there is room for him, especially with Hatem Ben Afra linked with a move away.

New Newcastle players Ayoze Perez and Emmanuel Riviere may be more use to Pardew as strikers, while Remy Cabella played his best football at Montpellier in 2012 Ligue 1 title win as a central attacking midfielder.

St Mary’s could be an alternative destination for Gnabry, however, following an exodus of Southampton stars, including team captain Adam Lallana. Ronald Koeman has already bought Dusan Tadic in a bid to replace the former Saints skipper, but Gnabry could help ease the burden on the Serbia wideman as he beds into English football.

On paper, there looks to be less competition for him to encounter at Southampton than Newcastle, especially as Jay Rodriguez is out until the autumn with a serious knee injury and Uruguay’s Gaston Ramirez has struggled to make an impact. Gnabry’s fellow 19-year-old James Ward-Prowse could also feature more heavily under Ronald Koeman.

Germany national boss Joachim Low has been spotted watching Gnabry, and the Gunners’ other contingent from that country, before, so a move could help increase his profile.