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Arsenal have stepped into the chase for £5million rated teenage striker Dino Klapija who has represented USA and Croatia at youth level.
Manchester United have also been following the 16-year-old, who plays for NK Kustosija, yet Arsenal’s interest is understood to have turned the highly rated youngster’s head as they consider a potential January transfer.
Mikel Arteta’s scouts have watched his last three matches as the skilful Klapija’s reputation grows.
Chelsea are watching him too but the main threat is understood to come from Bundesliga sides Red Bull Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund who want talks over a deal in November.
Arsenal have entered the race for highly-rated striker Dino Klapija, 16, who is valued at £5m
However, they face rival interest from Man United, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and RB Leipzig
Klapija was born in North Hempstead, USA and started out at New York City’s academy but moved back to Croatia with his family. He qualifies for both nations and was called up by USA U17s earlier this month for a training camp in Oregon as they prepare for the FIFA U17 World Cup which begins in Indonesia next month.
Kustosija are willing to sell in January but want £5million plus a sell on percentage.
Klapija and his family are aware they must make a decision soon which will take everything into account including not just settling in a new country but his education.
Arsenal’s project and pathway potential is believed to appeal more than that of Manchester United as it stands while Leipzig and Dortmund will also be pitching from a position of strength on those fronts.
Kustosija have a reputation for helping produce top young talents with the likes of Wolfsburg’s Lovro Majer and Mislav Orsic, now at Trabzonspor, among those to have graduated from their ranks. They also sold 19-year old centre back Mikayil Faye to Barcelona earlier this year.
