Report: Arsenal have had a look at 21-year-old midfielder who was linked to PSG this year

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According to Corriere Dello Sport, Arsenal have scouted Ivan Ilic this season.

Indeed, the Italian outlet claim that the Gunners were casting an eye over the midfielder during their scouting mission to watch Lazio vs Hellas Verona back in September.

Many believed that Arsenal were looking at another midfielder that day, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and while that was the case, the Gunners were also looking at Ilic.

Interestingly, the Serbian midfielder is a player that Mikel Arteta may know quite well.

The 21-year-old was on the books at Manchester City until 2020, so his time with the Cityzens overlapped with Arteta’s spell as a coach at the Etihad.

Of course, Ilic never made a senior appearance for Pep Guardiola’s side, so Arteta won’t know him inside and out, but he’ll have seen him up close and personal and it seems as though he’s left a lasting impression.

Arsenal could certainly do with some more depth in their midfield. Thomas Partey and Grant Xhaka are not getting any younger, and at the age of just 21, Ilic could well be an option for the north London club for the next decade.

This is a player with some decent pedigree. He did enough as a youngster to convince Manchester City to take him on, and just a few months ago he was being linked with a move to PSG off the back of his impressive performances for Verona.

If you’ve been signed by City and eyed up by PSG you must have something about you, and it sounds as though there is a chance that we could be seeing Ilic at the Emirates at some point after this scouting mission.