Arsenal are interested in signing the Hearts defender Alfie Osborne at the end of the season.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal and Manchester City are leading the race to sign the 17-year-old defender, and representatives from both clubs scouted the player in action on Wednesday.

Osborne is highly rated in Scotland, and he has a bright future. He could develop into a quality player with the right guidance, and the opportunity to move to the Premier League could be exciting.

Arsenal have done well to groom young players in the past, and they could play a role in the development of a 17-year-old. They have the financial muscle to get the deal over the line as well, and it will be difficult for Hearts to hold on to Osborne if there is a concrete proposal from Arsenal or Manchester City.

Meanwhile, the report from TEAMtalk claims that clubs like Leeds United, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Fulham are all monitoring the young defender. It remains to be seen where he ends up.

The opportunity to join Arsenal will be hard to turn down for the young defender. They are among the biggest clubs in the world, and they have consistently been fighting for major trophies. Similarly, Manchester City will be an attractive destination. He would get to work with a generational manager like Pep Guardiola if he joins Manchester City.

The defender is reportedly open to a move in the summer, and he does not want to sign a long-term contract with Hearts, even though the Scottish outfit is looking to retain him and has made efforts to tie him down to a new long-term deal.

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