Arsenal have reportedly lodged a £13.6m bid for Sporting Lisbon winger Joelson Fernandes.
The 17-year-old has broken into the first team at Sporting this season, becoming the youngest player in the club's history on his debut.
A number of top European clubs, including Barcelona and Juventus, are understood to be tracking the attacker, but Portuguese news channel TVI 24 claims that Arsenal have made the first move.
Fernandes's current contract is understood to include a £41m release clause, and Sporting are looking to tie him down to fresh terms which would see that fee rise even more.
However, the youngster is reportedly refusing to agree to a new deal and Arsenal are hopeful that he may be available for a cut-price fee as a result.
Fernandes's agent Kia Joorabchian, who has worked closely with Arsenal technical director Edu in the past, will reportedly travel to Lisbon next week to step up contract talks.
Barney Corkhill
