Arsenal have intensified their scouting of Benfica’s 21-year-old winger, Andrija Zivkovic, as they send Luis Boa Morte to watch the player once again.

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According to Record, Arsenal’s Portugal scout, Boa Morte had already scouted the player seven times prior to this latest outing as it becomes clear the youngster is firmly on Arsenal’s radar ahead of the summer.

Arsenal have been scouting Zivkovic for at least two years.

They tried to buy him in 2016 when he was at Partizan Belgrade before he moved to Benfica on a free transfer.

Zivkovic spent his youth years at Partizan where he made his senior debut at 16 and first captained the side aged just 17.

He is also the youngest Serbian international footballer in history.

Zivkovic made 24 appearances last season for Benfica, scoring one goal and grabbing 11 assists in the process as he slowly made himself a regular first team player. This season he has three goals and five assists in 25 appearances.

Next, Zivkovic scout report and Boa Morte update

Zivkovic scout report

The winger is very good with the ball at his feet and loves to be in possession, making runs down the flank and taking on his opponents with bursts of pace and dribbling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOc70G48o9U

He is left footed but plays mostly on the right wing, often cutting inside and positioning himself around the box. His right leg is also nicely developed and the player is comfortable using both feet if necessary. Zivkovic makes an average of 1.5 chances and 1.36 key passes per-game.

Crossing and set-pieces are his main weapons, as he has the ability to send in very precise long balls to the forwards and he even got a few of his assists that way.

Zivkovic is also very responsible with his defensive duties and keeps track of his player.

Zivkovic has the potential to make a great career for himself at any of the top European clubs and is considered to be one of the very best Serbian talents to have come from their youth ranks.

He is still very young and Arsene Wenger could mould him to fit the Arsenal squad however he wishes. With the lack of quality on the right wing at Arsenal, the player could become one of the main stars over the next few seasons.

Although he arrived at Benfica for free, reports claim the youngster has a release clause in his contract of £52.5m and Arsenal will need to get as much information about the player as possible before offering anything near that sum.

Next, Boa Morte update

Boa Morte

It was reported in February 2017 that Boa Morte had left his role as Arsenal scout to join Sintrense, a club in the third division back in his homeland. Boa Morte’s contract as a scout with Arsenal was up in summer anyway, but the club must have signed a new deal with the former frontman to continue in his role alongside his new job.

The 40-year-old, who spent two years at the Gunners (1997-1999), retired from professional football back at the start of 2013.

He took the job with the immediate aim of helping his new side avoiding relegation and is still listed as their head coach after succeeding in that task.