Arsenal are reportedly showing an interest in signing 17-year-old Flamengo wonderkid Matheus Goncalves.
The 2005-born attacker already has 11 first-team appearances to his name for the Brazilian giants and is regarded as one of their most highly-rated prospects in recent memory.
Goncalves - who has two goals for Flamengo - primarily features on the right-wing, but he has also been deployed in the number 10 role and on the other side of the attacking trident.
The Brazilian youngster is already attracting glances from a wealth of European powerhouses, with Manchester City and Ajax said to be closely monitoring his performances.
However, Arsenal's interest appears to be the firmest at present, with The Sun claiming that the Gunners are plotting their move for Goncalves as they try to raid the Brazilian market once more.
Arsenal supposedly hope that their Brazilian connections can help them fend off interest from other European sides, but they have been advised to make their move without any hesitation.
Sporting director Edu - a former Brazil international - has established an array of scouting networks in South America, and Goncalves's contract with Flamengo only runs until the summer of 2025.
The 17-year-old's deal is understood to possess a staggering release clause of £88m, but the report adds that Flamengo would consider a nominal fee of just £2.5m this summer.
With Goncalves turning 18 in August, he would be free to move to the UK in the upcoming transfer window, and former head coach Dorival Junior has supposedly claimed that the attacker is the brightest talent in the club's academy ranks right now.
Arsenal spent less than £10m on the signings of Gabriel Martinelli and Marquinhos from Ituano and Sao Paulo respectively, and the former is the Gunners' top Premier League scorer this season with 14 goals.
Meanwhile, Marquinhos - who joined for just £3m from Sao Paulo in the summer - scored and assisted on his debut against FC Zurich in the Europa Conference League, but he has since been sent to Championship side Norwich City on loan to continue his development.
Fellow Brazilians Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Jesus would also be able to offer Goncalves a warm welcome, but the 17-year-old would join the Gunners' academy ranks or be loaned out before making his first-team breakthrough.
Arsenal boss Arteta also has Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Fabio Vieira, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson competing for starts out wide, but the latter's long-term future remains unclear.
Nelson - who has three goals and two assists in four Premier League games this season - is only under contract at the Emirates until the end of the season, but Arsenal are said to have opened talks with the 23-year-old over an extension.
Brighton & Hove Albion are said to be keeping a close eye on developments, though, and Nelson could be tempted to leave in search of more regular game time, having played just 102 minutes of Premier League football this season. body check tags ::
