Arsenal transfer news: Scouts watch Boca Juniors teenage starlet Rodrigo Bentancur ahead of summer move

18-year-old is also attracting interest from Real Madrid and Juventus

Boca Juniors midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is a reported transfer target for Arsenal (Getty)

Arsenal are interested in signing 18-year-old Boca Juniors midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur after sending scouts to watch the highly-rated Uruguayan, it has been reported.

Arsenal are expected to strengthen their squad in the summer after struggling in the race for the Premier League title this season and suffering their first FA Cup defeat in over two years, having not signed a single outfield player last summer.

The Gunners moved to bring in defensive midfielder Mohamed Elneny from FC Basle, but having slipped behind both Leicester and Tottenham in the Premier League table, a summer rebuild is on the cards at the Emirates and Bentancur has been identified as a transfer target to strengthen the squad for the future, according to ESPN.

It’s reported that Arsenal have sent staff to Argentina to watch Bentancur, but they could face competition for his services from European heavyweights in Real Madrid and Juventus.

Arsenal scouts were in attendance for Boca’s 3-1 victory over Bolivar last Thursday with Bentancur their main interest although he only came off the substitutes’ bench with five minutes remaining, and subsequently were in attendance as he played the opening 40 minutes against Tigres last night before being replaced by Fernando Gago.

Boca would prefer to keep the talented teenager at the club for at least another season, but the allure of a move to a major European has left the Argentinian side with a resigned feeling that they could be forced to sell Bentancur should they receive an off that is too good to turn down.