Report: Serie A giants set to challenge Arsenal in pursuit of £50 million-rated Portuguese prodigy Andre Silva

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Arsene Wenger is not exactly known for stumping up huge fees but, for a talent as precocious as Andre Silva, he may make an exception.

Prodigious Portuguese striker Andre Silva could be set to spark a continent-spanning transfer battle after Milan and Inter sent scoutsto watch him in action during Porto’s Champions League win against Club Brugge, according to Calciomercato.

Despite stunning France on home soil to win Euro 2016 this summer, Portugal have notoriously lacked a top class centre-forward to complement their litany of talented creators, with the likes of Nuno Gomes, Hugo Almeida and Helder Postiga filling the role to limited effect since the turn of the century.

However, a sensational start to the season for club and country has raised hopes that 20-year-old Andre Silva can be the answer to the Iberian nation’s prayers, especially after he become youngest hat-trick scorer in Portugal’s history in their 6-0 thrashing of the Faroe Islands earlier this month.

As such, his rapid development has not gone unnoticed across the continent with Calciomercato reporting that scouts from Milan rivals Inter and AC were in attendance as Silva demonstrated his maturity by slotting home a last-minute penalty in Belgium on Tuesday night.

Consequently, reported suitors Arsenal may have to act fast if they are to avoid being bumped down the queue.

According to The Sun, Arsene Wenger has been tracking Silva’s progress for over a year despite the striking sensation recently inking a new five-year contract at Porto complete with a 60 million euro buyout clause, as reported by ESPN.

However, the 2004 Champions League winners have shown in the past that they will be willing to part with their in-demand youngsters for the right price, with the likes of James Rodriguez (below), Hulk and Eliaquim Mangala all departing the Dragao for huge fees in recent years.

Silva, an instinctive poacher blessed with typical Portuguese agility and vision, will not be short of options if he decides to follow in their footsteps.