Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Should Steer Clear of Unproven Nick Powell

Crewe Alexandra midfielder Nick Powell continues to get chased by some of the Premier League's biggest clubs, including Arsenal. While he has plenty of potential, the Gunners would be better off using the transfer funds to chase a more proven player.

Steve Stammers of the Daily Mirror reports Arsenal is joined by Manchester United and Chelsea in pursuit of the 18-year-old phenom. There have also been rumors that Liverpool have joined the race since new manager Brendan Rodgers took over.

With so many teams interested in Powell, a bidding war will likely ensue, and that's not something the Gunners can afford. They don't have a seemingly unlimited stream of money to spend on players, so they have to remain frugal.

It's particularly an issue this summer, as the future of superstar striker Robin van Persie hangs in the balance. Arsenal must keep as much money available to make sure they can have wiggle room for the Premier League's leading scorer.

Powell has been on the radar for a while, having played for England's youth national teams. But it wasn't until his breakout season with Crewe, in which he scored 16 goals and added eight assists, that the interest level really skyrocketed.

Even though those are impressive numbers for a young player without much experience, it's important to remember they came against League Two competition. It's a big jump from there to the EPL, because the level of play is exponentially higher.

That means there will probably be an extended transition period as he acclimates himself to the top division. For teams that are always battling for European tournament spots, it's tough to have any patience with young players when every point counts.

A team like United can overcome any struggles Powell endures due to the team's strong talent base. The Gunners aren't quite as deep, so one weak link would be a major disadvantage, even knowing the potential payoff down the line.

What no team can do if they land Powell is force him to sit on the bench. He needs to receive consistent playing time to develop, and the chances of ever reaching his potential will decrease significantly if he gets stuck on the sidelines.

As for now, he remains an unproven commodity and therefore comes with plenty of risk. Arsenal can't afford to swing and miss on any transfers and still remain on track to remain near the top of the league.

In other words, Powell isn't a good fit for the Gunners right now, even though there's a lot to like about his future. Manager Arsene Wenger should continue to scour the market, looking for players who are more likely to make an immediate impact next season.

Let another team take the chance on Powell.