England under-17 striker Mason Cotcher has been training with Arsenal since leaving Sunderland, according to the Daily Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath.
The 17-year-old is also on the radar of Scottish Premiership giants Rangers, and moving there will only fetch the English Championship club much lower compensation.
Cotcher has been playing for Arsenal under-18, bagging a goal and an assist against Crystal Palace last month.
The Englishman scored ten goals for Sunderland under-18 side last term as they pushed Manchester City all the way in the under-18 Premier League, and he was an unused substitute for their first-team in the win against Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup at the beginning of the year.
According to Jeorge Bird, Cotcher was given a special training kit indicating he was a trialist yesterday during the session with Mikel Arteta’s side, and it remains to be seen whether Arsenal will end up handing him a deal.
Rangers and co will be monitoring the situation without a doubt, and the teenage sensation will be desperate to impress the Gunners.
Arsenal are looking to bolster their attacking ranks in January and have been regularly linked with Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
However, a deal for the England international could prove tricky due to Financial Fair Play concerns, and whether they can land a quality forward on loan remains to be seen.
Cotcher is not the finished article yet and is unlikely to make an immediate impact in the first-team if snapped up.
However, he could prove to be a valuable addition to the Arsenal youth teams having already impressed with the under-18s.
Brighton & Hove Albion are also said to be keeping tabs on the teenager who is still signed to a scholarship deal at Sunderland.
They offered him a new deal in the summer but he was not keen and is eligible to them for another club at any time.
