Arsenal have made contact with the representatives of Red Star Belgrade's teenage midfielder Vasilije Kostov as sporting director Andrea Berta begins to shape the club's summer transfer strategy. According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners hold a genuine interest in the 17-year-old Serbian international, who has been scouted by several top European clubs.
Romano described the situation as an 'Arsenal blitz' on his YouTube channel, confirming that the Premier League side are closely monitoring Kostov's situation. He stated that while Italian and German clubs have been tracking the player for some time, Arsenal have now entered the race and initiated discussions with those close to the youngster. The move aligns with a reported club strategy to invest in high-potential talents alongside more established names.
The attacking midfielder, who has already earned a senior cap for Serbia, has drawn comparisons to Italy's Nicolo Barella and Spain's Pedri for his technical style. Red Star Belgrade's general director, Zvezdan Terzic, told Football London that the club has already rejected an offer worth around €20 million (£17 million) for Kostov, indicating the fee it would take to secure his services. Terzic expressed strong belief in the player's potential, suggesting he could feature for one of the Premier League's traditional 'big six' clubs.
This interest follows a period of generally successful recruitment at the Emirates Stadium, with sporting director Andrea Berta overseeing recent operations. The pursuit of Kostov represents a potential shift towards securing younger prospects, a market in which Arsenal have had mixed results, having missed out on forward Viktor Gyokeres in a previous window. The club also maintains a reported interest in Manchester City's Julian Alvarez as they seek to bolster their attacking options.
For Red Star Belgrade, the sale of another highly-rated academy product would continue a profitable trend, though they are under no immediate pressure to sell. For Arsenal, securing a player of Kostov's profile would be a long-term investment in a creative midfield option, providing depth behind current starters as Mikel Arteta's squad prepares for another season of Champions League football. Any deal remains in its early stages, with Romano cautioning that an agreement is not yet close, but the established contact marks a clear intent from the North London club.
