ARSENAL are tracking Italy's Under-21 midfielder Alberto Aquilani.
And the Gunners, always on the look-out for the best emerging talent, are well aware that Aquilani has emerged as one of the world's top young stars.
The 22-year-old was watched by Gilles Grimandi, who is in line to be named the Gunners' new director of football, as Italy beat Portugal on penalties at the European Under-21 Championship on Thursday to qualify for the Olympic Games. The Roma play-maker was named man-of-the-match for a superb display and spectacular long-range strike in the 2-2 draw with England the previous week.
And that display was enough for Grimandi to be dispatched to Holland to run the rule over the elegant midfielder.
All of Europe's leading clubs had representatives monitoring the Championship. Aquilani was acknowledged by the scouting fraternity as one of the true stars of the tournament.
WEST HAM are lining up a #5.5million swoop for Wigan's England Under-21 star Leighton Baines.
Hammers boss Alan Curbishley wants the left-back to bolster his defence and is ready to match the Latics' asking price for Baines, who starred in the European Under-21 Championship.
JJB chairman Dave Whelan would be reluctant to sell to the Hammers after the Carlos Tevez affair, but he has a policy of informing his players about transfer interest.