Arsenal are sending scouts to watch teenage talent Vasilije Kostov with Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday night, according to a report.
Mirko Markovic reports that Borussia Dortmund scouts have been watching Red Star Belgrade midfielder Vasilije Kostov closely in recent times, and they’ll be in attendance again for Red Star’s match away to Malmo on Thursday night.
But Markovic adds that Arsenal are also sending scouts to the Europa League match, having received positive recommendations on Kostov.
Red Star have already received offers for the 17-year-old, but they’re delaying while they wait for the likes of Arsenal to enter the running and potentially boost the price. The club hope to break their current transfer record of €15m.
Kostov has six goals and five assists in 24 matches for Red Star this season, notching a goal contribution once every 134 minutes.
The youngster’s biggest moment so far was probably his equaliser away to FC Porto in October, and Red Star are well positioned to at least make the knockout stage play-off round.
Away from club football, Kostov also made his senior debut for Serbia in October, coming on against Albania. The teenager is still primarily an u19 international though, and he dropped back down to the u19s and scored against Georgia in November.
Whether Arsenal progress from scouting missions to bids in the coming weeks and months remains to be seen, but it seems the club believe Kostov is worth the midweek trip to Sweden.