Arsenal are leading the chase to sign Benfica winger Andrija Zivkovic this summer, but need to move fast if they want to do so before the World Cup.

Portuguese outlet Record write that Arsenal are one of the ‘most attentive’ clubs in the ongoing transfer saga, after Zivkovic received a call up to the 27-man Serbian World Cup squad shortlist. SportWitness report that people close to the player are ‘pretty sure’ Arsenal will make a move for him in the current window.

If they’re going to do so, it’d be better to get it done sooner rather than later. We’ve all seen what can happen to a player’s value on the back of a good World Cup campaign.

Arsenal have been scouting Zivkovic for at least the last couple of years. They reportedly tried to buy him in 2016 when he was at Partizan Belgrade, before he moved to Benfica on a free transfer.

In the last few months especially, there have been countless reports from Portugal linking the club to the 21-year-old with a £53m release clause.

All that took place before the appointment of Unai Emery though. We’ll have to wait and see what the new head coach thinks of the player, and whether he decides Arsenal should make a move.