Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta
The best academies in Europe are no longer waiting until a player is ready for the first team. They look earlier, travel further and try to secure the next wave before the price rises and the competition thickens.
That work rarely makes the Saturday headlines. It happens in small stadiums, in midweek reports and in quiet conversations that may or may not become a bid months later.
Premier League clubs that have already built a strong senior squad still treat those pipelines as urgent business. A title-winning group can look complete in September and thin by March if the next generation is not already mapped out.
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Caught Offside reports that Arsenal are keeping a close eye on Sturm Graz youngster Luca Weinhandl. The 17-year-old is a 6ft 3in right-footed box-to-box midfielder who began at SV Wildon before joining the Graz academy at the age of six.
He made his first-team debut earlier this year. After featuring as a rotation option last season, he has played more regularly this term, with two goal contributions in 11 appearances across all competitions, according to the same report.
Arsenal have recently signed Andria Bartishvili and are said to be focusing on elite young players as well as first-team reinforcements. Weinhandl has been identified as an option to bolster the midfield pipeline.
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The north London club sent scouts to watch him against Rapid Wien and LASK in the last two Austrian Bundesliga matches. Initial talks over a deal have already been held.
Sturm Graz are under no pressure to sell. The player is not pushing to leave and is currently happy with his progress in Austria.
Caught Offside still states that Arsenal are confident of signing him and that Sturm Graz would be prepared to accept around £17m if they are forced to cash in next year. Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion have also been monitoring his development.
The same outlet claims Arsenal have an interest in Leicester City midfielder Louis Page, though Manchester United are currently leading that race.
Weinhandl would be a long-term rather than an immediate first-team fix. Whether the Gunners can beat other Premier League clubs to him remains the open question, especially while he is content to keep developing in Graz.
Arsenal huddle
Arsenal huddle
David Raya
David Raya