Arsenal have reportedly scouted Brazilian ‘wonderkid’ Ramires six times as the club line up a January move for the player.

So says a report in The S*n who claim they got their report from South America but there are a few problems with it.

First up, the S*n say that Raul Sanllehi could help Arsenal sign Ramires because he was integral in signing Neymar for Barcelona. But, in the next breath, they talk about Sanllehi’s recent comments that indicated he disliked the January transfer window and would only move during it due to an emergency.

This week Arsenal did indeed suffer an emergency of sorts when Danny Welbeck landed on his own ankle and snapped it like a twig. But Ramires is a box-to-box midfielder, not a forward, so the 18-year-old, who has only represented his club 11 times, would not be a logical replacement. He seems more of an Aaron Ramsey replacement than anything else.

Ramires currently plays for Esporte Clube Bahia who, if you read The S*n are keen to hang on to him but if you read the Mirror are open to selling him to a European club.

Ramires’s contract with the Brazilians runs until 2022 after it was recently extended. He made his debut for the club in September and was then immediately offered a new deal. According to Sport Witness he has been roundly praised since then, especially when it comes to dealing with pressure in big games, although, like Matteo Guendouzi, his sample size of games is very small due to his age.

Sport Witness also spoke to his agent who told them, “There is talk of not only Arsenal, but several clubs in Brazil here too, several clubs in Europe, but nothing concrete.”

Known originally as Eric dos Santos Rodrigues, Ramires got his nickname because he, apparently, looks like the Chelsea midfielder.

Atletico Madrid are also said to be interested and, given the UK’s work permit rules, which might be loosened in the post-Brexit wasteland this country becomes, they have to be the favourites until that time.