Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reveals he will go into the lower leagues to sign stars after securing factory-worker Cohen Bramall
Hednesford Town defender joined Gunners for just £40k on Tuesday - and it is all part of the boss's cunning masterplan
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ARSENAL’S pursuit of untapped talent from the lower league is all part of Arsene Wenger’s masterplan.
The Gunners manager snapped up left-back Cohen Bramall from non-league Hednesford Town on Tuesday in a deal worth just £40,000.
And the 20-year-old factory worker – who will now earn around £3,000 a week after being made redundant from his £400-a-week job at Bentley – may not be the only unheralded name heading to the Emirates this January.
SunSport exclusively revealed that Arsenal are also tracking AFC Wimbledon right-back Toby Siddick, 17.
Wenger’s scouts are also sniffing around Barnsley’s highly-rated 19-year-old defender James Bree.
And it should come as no surprise to Gunners fans – as the boss revealed last summer that he has asked his talent-spotters to scour the divisions for stars of the future.
Wenger said: “I’ve said to our scouts to look at the lower leagues because the good players are there now.
“Don’t forget we have many foreign players in the Premier League but good English players have to go down to develop.
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“What I think will happen is that you will have more and more players coming out of the lower leagues who have had to fight their way through.”
Bramall joins former Bolton defender Rob Holding, who signed in a £2.5million deal in July – to the bemusement of Arsenal fans.
The centre-half, 21, has made eight appearances for the Gunners in all competitions this season.