Parma's Ghanaian midfielder Afriyie Acquah is emerging as a top target for Arsenal.
The Sun says the 20-year-old has been likened to a young Michael Essien.
Capped twice by the Black Stars, he is on a season-long loan from Parma's Serie A rivals Palermo.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger now plans to have £8million-rated Acquah monitored at next month's African Nations Cup.