Arsenal are reportedly interested in AC Milan youngster Manuel Locatelli, although they are expected to face competition from Leicester City.
As reported by The Mirror, the two Premier League sides are eyeing a move for the 18-year-old who has been tipped for a bright future at the San Siro.
Having been promoted to the senior squad this season, he has yet to make his first-team debut for the Rossoneri, although he has registered three goals and two assists in 16 appearances for their Primavera side.
Nevertheless, that hasn’t prevented the club’s hierarchy from speaking highly about him having watched his development closely through the youth ranks.
As well as captaining the youth team, Locatelli has demonstrated his ability to dictate play in the middle of the field and he will hope to break through under new first-team coach Cristian Brocchi between now and the end of the season.
While Sinisa Mihajlovic’s sacking this week added to Milan’s woes in recent years, Brocchi is expected to extend the Serbian tactician’s work in so far as continuing to give youth players a chance to impress.
Gianluigi Donnarumma previously played for the 40-year-old at youth level and has gone on to become a first-team regular for the senior side. In turn, Locatelli will hope to follow suit in the coming weeks with no real suggestion that he sees his future elsewhere.
Regardless, both Arsenal and Leicester will look to change that, and the Gunners will undoubtedly be an attractive proposition given their culture and tradition of developing young talents.
Essentially, it is no real surprise to see Arsene Wenger linked, albeit in the media for now, with a move for a promising starlet, but it remains to be seen if there is any truth behind it.
As for Leicester, Claudio Ranieri will be keen to build a long-term project at the King Power Stadium as well as enjoying their immediate success as they continue to hunt down their first Premier League title.
Having already signed the likes of Demarai Gray, the Italian coach has shown a willingness to sign young players with big futures, and Locatelli certainly fits that mould as interest continues to grow in signing him.