FC Copenhagen striker and Arsenal target Andreas Cornelius has expressed his desire to play in the Premier League one day.

The 19-year-old is the joint-top scorer of this season's Danish Superliga, with 14 goals from 20 appearances. Cornelius already has three senior international caps to his name and is regarded as one of the hottest young prospects in Denmark.

The Sun reports Arsenal, West Ham United and Inter Milan were all keeping tabs on the forward, while the Metro linked AC Milan with a £3m move in January. And Sky Sports says Sunderland are now the latest club understood to be interested in Cornelius, who admitted he would love to be part of the English top flight some day. However, the youngster is happy to stay in his homeland for now.

"I think that the Premier League is the best league in the world and I would love to play there. It would be like a dream coming true. But there is still a long way and I still have plenty to learn. I have a contract with Copenhagen for the next four years so that seems like a good timeframe for me, although things change quickly in football so you never know," the striker said.

Cornelius' 6'4" frame and aerial prowess give him a strong physical presence in the opposition box and while he also possesses excellent technique, he is recognised more as a target man. Arsenal's Scandinavian scout, Bobby Bennett, who found and negotiated the deal for Nicklas Bendtner in 2004, is understood to have recommended Cornelius to the Gunners.

Andreas Cornelius
Reuters

There was interest in Cornelius during the January transfer window but Copenhagen sporting director Carsten V Jensen warned off all potential suitors, stating they were not a selling club.

"We are in the process of rebuilding the team and, therefore, we will not sell any key players. We are not a selling club and we are not dependent on income from sales,"Jensen stressed.