Arsenal face 12-club January loan scramble for 16-year-old sensation Max Dowman

More than a dozen clubs have reportedly contacted Arsenal over a possible January loan move for Max Dowman.

The 16-year-old’s immediate future was already under consideration, with Arsenal prepared to reassess whether regular senior football elsewhere could accelerate his development.

Interest has now intensified significantly.

According to TEAMtalk, more than 12 clubs have registered an interest in taking Dowman on loan if Arsenal make him available.

12 clubs want Max Dowman

Dowman becomes eligible for a temporary move when he turns 17 on 31 December.

Luton Town had already made repeated approaches, with former Arsenal academy coach Jack Wilshere keen on a reunion.

We previously covered Luton’s attempts to sign Dowman on loan before Arsenal’s position became more flexible.

The scale of interest now gives Mikel Arteta a much bigger decision.

Arsenal face difficult Dowman decision

Dowman has made the case for staying around the first team increasingly strong.

He scored twice in Arsenal’s 4-2 Carabao Cup win at Ipswich and earned a 9/10 in our Arsenal player ratings at Portman Road.

Arteta also promised Dowman further first-team opportunities after that performance.

There is still no decision that Dowman will leave in January.

But interest from more than a dozen clubs means Arsenal will have no shortage of options if Arteta decides regular senior minutes elsewhere represent the best next step.