Arsenal scouts have been watching teenage winger Ianis Stoica for a couple of months now, according to reports in Romania.

Ianis Stoica with FCSB (Photo via Playsport.ro)
Ianis Stoica with FCSB (Photo via Playsport.ro)

Romanian outlet Playsport report that FCSB winger Ianis Stoica has been noticed by Arsenal scouts, who have been monitoring him for the last couple of months.

According to the claims, Arsenal have already put together a file on the youngster, and they’ll make an official offer for him next year.

They have competition, with FCSB already reportedly rejecting a €1.5m offer from Bologna, and Galatasaray also showing an interest.

The 18-year-old has six goals and two assists for FCSB this season, one goal contribution every 73 minutes.

He’s also broken into the Romania u21s, playing for them over the last three breaks and scoring against Georgia on his debut.

It wouldn’t be the first time Arsenal have dipped into the Romanian leagues to sign a teenage talent. That’s exactly what they did with Catalin Cirjan in 2019.

Cirjan made a strong start to life with Arsenal, regularly featuring for the u23s last campaign. He’s only been absent from the team recently through injury.

GILLINGHAM, ENGLAND: Catalin Cirjan celebrates scoring a goal for Arsenal during the match between Gillingham and Arsenal U21 at Priestfield Stadium on November 10, 2020. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
GILLINGHAM, ENGLAND: Catalin Cirjan celebrates scoring a goal for Arsenal during the match between Gillingham and Arsenal U21 at Priestfield Stadium on November 10, 2020. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

It’s even possible that Cirjan directly or indirectly helped Arsenal to discover Stoica in the first place.

The two have played together for the Romanian youth teams, as they’re only a week apart in age. Arsenal could well have spotted the FCSB youngster whilst tracking their own player.

Arsenal have shown a willingness to invest in signing youth players in recent years, as opposed to simply promoting the u18s.

Mika Biereth (Fulham), George Lewis (Fram Larvik), Nikolaj Moller (Malmo), Tim Akinola (Huddersfield), Salah-Eddine Oulad M’hand (Feyenoord), and Omar Rekik (Hertha BSC) are among those to join since 2020.

Whether Stoica is the next on the list, we’ll have to wait and see. But it’s certainly not impossible.