According to a recent report, Arsenal have been thoroughly scouting the progress of Malaga midfielder, Pablo Fornals.

The 21-year-old has caught the eye at the Anchovies with consistent performances this term and the Gunners have now been linked with a £15m swoop for his services.

Who is Pablo Fornals?

Fornals is a highly-rated attacking midfielder who developed in the youth ranks at Villarreal and Castellón before joining Malaga when he turned 16.

He has the versatility to play across midfield, in a deeper role, or even on the right wing as a result of his adaptability to different situations. His defensive contribution and workrate, as well as an unselfish nature to his playing style, are all impressive strengths which make him an attractive acquisition.

This is one of the reasons Arsenal have reportedly dedicated such time scouting his matches, as he has been heralded as the next Santi Cazorla.

Some of Fornal’s stats from this campaign are as follows:

• 30 chances created, 15 successful take-ons, 77% passing accuracy
• 34 interceptions, 38 tackles won, zero defensive errors

Having made his debut for both the Spain u21s and senior squad last year, he’ll be hoping for further opportunities.

With five goals and three assists in La Liga this term, he has established himself as one of Malaga’s prized assets and is one of their youngest senior players too.

They’ll be eager to retain their talented midfielder for years to come but a big-money switch seems inevitable at some stage in the next year or so, allowing him to progress and develop his career.