Arsenal 'interested in Ivorian teenager'

Arsenal are monitoring Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie, according to the player's agent.

The 19-year-old, who has been compared to Yaya Toure, currently plies his trade with Serie A outfit Atalanta and has attracted attention across Europe after scoring four goals in the first five games of the season.

According to Goal.com, Kessie's agent claimed that the Gunners sent a scout to watch him play during Atalanta's game with Palermo on Wednesday.

"[Arsenal] were here in Italy to watch him," he said. "Arsenal are a good team but there are a lot of teams interested in him so they're not the only possible destination."

Fellow Serie A sides Juventus and Napoli have also been credited with an interest, while Premier League strugglers Sunderland were thought to have been interested over the summer.