Arsenal are among a large number of clubs to send scouts to watch Benfica goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos, according to reports in Portugal.

Portuguese outlet Record claims a grand total of 18 different clubs sent scouts to watch the goalkeeper playing in his club’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. Arsenal’s scouts were among those in attendance, along with those from other Premier League teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle.

Bayern themselves reportedly have a particularly keen interest in the German goalkeeper. According to the media in the 24-year-old’s home country, Bayern have been following his progress since he was in the Stuttgart B team back in 2011, and believe he has the potential to become a ‘new Neuer’.

Vlachodimos couldn’t do much to stop Bayern on the day, conceding twice despite making four saves. I doubt many of the scouts in attendance will hold that against him though.

Of course, Arsenal have only just signed a new German goalkeeper from the Bundesliga, so at first this story seems a little odd. On the other hand, Petr Cech’s contract is currently set to expire at the end of the year, so the Gunners could well still invest in another shot-stopper next summer. We’ll see.