Arsenal are reportedly in talks with Ituano over the transfer of 17-year-old Brazilian ‘wonderkid’ Gabriel Martinelli.

This story started in Brazil so is perhaps worth paying attention to, especially as UOL claim that Arsenal’s interest in the player is ‘concrete’ and that they could be prepared to pay up to €8m for him ‘according to people linked to the talks’.

Flamengo, Santos and Cruzeiro are also said to be interested in the player.

Martinelli turns 18 in the summer and is hoping to obtain Italian citizenship which would help any move to Arsenal. Any move would happen after his 18th birthday in June.

The player signed for Ituano from Corinthians where he score 73 goals in 139 games and has been invited in the past to train with both Barcelona and Manchester United.

“There is enthusiasm about Arsenal,” the report claims although it’s not clear if that is from the club, the player or both.

He is under contract until 2022 but he is expected to move long before then. This season, despite his age, he has four goals and three assists in 10 appearances for the Ituano first team.