Arsenal have sent Russia side FC Ufa a letter to request taking 18-year-old defender Igor Diveev on trial, and haven’t yet received a response.

Russian outlet Championat write that Arsenal have sent the Russians a request to bring the young 6ft 3 defender to North London on a temporary basis. The Gunners reportedly spotted Diveev during the Russian u20s’ run to the final of the COTIF-2018.

It’s all moving very fast for the player himself, who hadn’t even made his debut for Ufa’s second team until July, and still hasn’t played a match for their first team.

It’s certainly not uncommon for clubs (Arsenal included) to take youth players on trials outside the transfer window. Catalin Carjan got a trial with the youth sides last season, even though he can’t sign with the club until he turns 16 later this year.

Presumably if the club manage to take Diveev on trial, then decide they want to make the deal permanent, they’d have to wait until January to do so. Nonetheless, the sooner they can get a better look at him in person, the better. It’s much easier to see the quality of a player when he’s up against opponents you know well already.