Arsenal are fighting Barcelona over a deal for Uruguayan teen Sebastian Caceres.
The Sun says the 19-year-old has caught the eye of the Spanish giants after playing regular first-team football for Liverpool FC in Montevideo.
Caceres had the Gunners tracking him before breaking into senior football and other Premier League clubs are monitoring him too.
But Barca are now front of the queue to snap up the teenager as a long-term investment.
Caceres is Uruguay Under-20s captain and on course to play for the seniors, which makes regular football his biggest concern when looking at a move to Europe.
He has previously trained with Feyenoord but the Dutch club could not thrash out a deal to sign him.
Caceres said earlier this year: “This was flattering to hear this as they are a top team. I don’t know much about their new manager but I watch Arsenal a lot as I like the style of football.
“To play in the Premier League would be a dream for me as my ambitions are firstly to play in Europa and then play a World Cup with the Uruguay first team.”