Arsenal are tracking Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser ahead of a possible summer move, according to reliable football journalist Paul Joyce.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 23: Ryan Fraser of AFC Bournemouth crosses the ball during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Vitality Stadium on February 23, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Ryan Fraser of AFC Bournemouth crosses the ball during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Vitality Stadium on February 23, 2019, in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Paul Joyce wrote in The Times on Tuesday that Arsenal are following the winger as they start to prioritise their signings for next season. The Gunners are reportedly considering Fraser as an alternative to exercising the purchase option in Denis Suarez’s contract.

Joyce has a great record for transfer news, though he usually specialises in the Northern teams. Nonetheless, this should be taken a lot more seriously than most of the gossip that flies around.

Fraser only has a contract running until 2020 with Bournemouth. At 25 years old, there isn’t likely to be a better time to buy him, if Arsenal really are interested.

Plus, the Scottish international is having the season of his life right now. Despite Bournemouth sitting in the bottom half of the table, Fraser has seven goals and eleven assists for the campaign. Only two Arsenal players have scored more than that (no prizes for guessing which two) and none of them have more assists.

Of course, it’s easier to be a big fish when you’re in a small pond. It remains to be seen whether Fraser could maintain those high-level performances for a top team, or if Arsenal are even able to convince Bournemouth to sell for a reasonable price. This is a story to keep an eye on.