Arsenal Consider Contract Offer For U17 World Cup Star - Report

Arsenal chief scout Steve Rowley has been paying close attention to Nigeria teenager Kelechi Iheanacho after the midfielder scored four goals against Mexico at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

The north London club have long used the tournament to identify talent, having previously signed Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona after he was the top scorer at the 2003 tournament when Spain lost to Brazil in the final.

Carlos Vela was also signed by Arsenal after he impressed in the summer of 2005 when he was the top scorer in the tournament with five goals.

Rowley has been sent to watch the tournament and the Daily Mail believes that he has been suitably impressed with the performances of Iheanacho.

The 17-year-old was unstoppable against Mexico and spoke afterwards at his delight of performing so well on the big stage.

He told Fifa.com: "I've scored four goals in a game many times, but only in the streets with my friends. But never in an international match."

Iheanacho will once again be in action as Nigeria take on Iran in the round of 16 out in United Arab Emirates.

The youngster has already alerted a number of Premier League club's to his talent so Arsenal may well have to move quickly to tie up a deal for the midfielder.

In fact it seems Arsenal are not the only English team monitoring his performances, with Iheanacho's agent Henry Galeano telling allnigeriasoccer.com: "He is being monitored by three major clubs in the Premier League. Due to confidentiality agreements we have, I am unable to officially release the name of the clubs."

Arsenal are not the only club to have used the Under-17 World Cup to identify talent with Tottenham signing Souleymane Coulibaly who scored nine goals in four matches for Ivory Coast at competition in 2011.