Arsenal launch £5m bid for wonderkid Martinelli after Man Utd trial (Fox Sports)

Arsenal are planning to launch a bid for Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Martinelli - who once had a trial with Manchester United .

Teenager Martinelli has broken through at Brazil top flight side Ituano to play 31 times over the last two seasons.

The 17-year-old winger has netted 10 times for the first team at his hometown club in Sao Paulo to help them finished as runners-up in the Paulista Championship.

According to Fox Sports Brasil, the Gunners have made a £5million bid for Martinelli - although Barcelona are also said to be interested and will be monitoring the situation.

It is unknown whether Ituano will accept the offer, with the club yet to decide on how much they want for their talent.

Along with the European giants of Arsenal and Barca, Championship outfits Leeds and Middlesbrough are also keeping tabs on the prized youngster, along with homeland sides Palmeiras, Corinthians and Flamengo.

Martinelli's agent Marcos Casseb has spoken about the growing interest in his client and admitted that he had planned for the likes of Arsenal attempting to swoop for him.

"To be honest we expected this to happen," Casseb told Globo Esporte.

"His evolution since last year is very fast, he is above average.

"The initial planning is for him to go straight to Europe."

Martinelli signed a five year deal with Ituano in 2017 which will last until October 2022.

He will be able to join the Gunners in the summer when he can obtain an Italian passport - which would circumnavigate potential problems with visas.

In 2017, Martinelli flew into the UK to train with United's youth set up and even featured in a match against Lincoln - but the Red Devils decided against capturing him.