Arsenal favourites to sign NK Kustosija forward Dino Klapija in January
|Arsenal are leading Manchester United in the race for NK Kustosija forward Dino Klapija ahead of the January transfer window, according to Index HR Croatian journalist Stjepan Mati.
The Croatian third-division side want £5 million for the 16-year-old and are expected to cash in on him next month.
Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also keen on Klapija, but the Gunners appear to have moved ahead of the Bundesliga duo and the Red Devils in his pursuit.
Chelsea are also interested in the teenage sensation who has represented the USA and Croatia at youth level, and Arsenal have regularly scouted him in recent months.
The North London club want to bolster their attack next month to boost their chances of winning the Premier League, but Klapija would not be walking straight into the first-team if he gets signed.
He has featured regularly in the matchday squad of Kustosija and is highly rated, but he does not have what it takes to break into the plans of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta right now.
He started his career in the New York City academy as a midfielder before moving to Kustosija after his family relocated, opting against joining the likes of Dinamo Zagreb to boost his chances of first-team football elsewhere.
Arsenal would offer him a pathway to senior team football if he keeps progressing steadily upon joining them, and while landing a youth team player will not excite the fans, pipping top clubs to his services would be huge for the Gunners given his potential.