Arsenal are close to reaching an agreement for the transfer of highly rated Serbian attacking midfielder Vasilije Kostov from Red Star Belgrade, according to Serbian outlet Sportinjo via Sport Witness.
Since Andrea Berta’s appointment as sporting director, Arsenal’s recruitment strategy has evolved significantly, with an emphasis on acquiring top prospects.
That approach has already led to the arrival of some promising talents like Marli Solomon, who made his debut in the 3-0 win over Club Brugge, becoming the club’s fourth-youngest ever debutant.
The latest name on their radar is arguably one of Serbia’s most exciting talents this year, Kostov, who the International Centre for Sports Studies has recognised as the best Under-18 midfielder globally.
Still only 17, he has already grown into a central figure for Red Star’s senior side, producing 14 goals and seven assists across all competitions this season.
That meteoric rise has also carried onto the international stage, with the youngster earning his first senior appearance for Serbia in November.
It’s no surprise that Serbian outlet Sportinjo, via Sport Witness, reports that Kostov is a subject of keen interest to several clubs, including Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund.
Exciting prospect
However, the North Londoners are set to trump their rivals for the exciting midfielder’s signature as the report claims that the Premier League leaders are ‘on the verge’ of reaching an agreement with Red Star for the transfer of the Serbian international to the Emirates Stadium.
With the deal nearing completion, Kostov is now ‘packing his bags’ to be in London this week after Arsenal agreed to a £10m deal with fixed fees and bonuses, bringing the total to £20m, according to the report.
Kostov has been mainly utilised as an attacking midfielder by head coach Dejan Stankovic, but he also predominantly drops deeper into the number 8 role. His efficiency with the ball and ability to orchestrate play have also seen him drop even further to the number 6 position, which indicates his high-level ability on the ball.
The Serbian can practically do everything you want in a midfielder, from scoring, where he exhibited his ability earlier this year with six goals in six games, to a relentless work ethic off the ball.
Hence, he possesses the qualities to gradually step into the first team fold to compete for a role in the starting lineup, especially with Martin Ødegaard facing an uncertain future at the Emirates.