Arsenal in talks to sign Scotland international on transfer deadline day

Arsenal are in talks with Hearts over a transfer deadline day deal for Scotland international striker James Wilson.

Still just 18 years old, Wilson made his professional debut at 16 and has already turned out 45 times for the Scottish Premiership club, scoring eight goals.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke clearly likes what he has seen from Wilson as he gave him his senior international debut in March last year.

In coming off the bench against Greece at Hampden, Wilson became Scotland’s youngest ever player at 18 years and 17 days old, breaking John Lambie’s record set in 1887.

His progress at Hearts appears to have stalled somewhat this season, with just six Premiership appearances and no goals scored in the Scottish top flight.

Only one of those six appearances came in the starting XI and Wilson was subbed off at half-time in that clash with Motherwell.

Wilson recognised that, with Hearts top of the Scottish Premiership, it is tough to break into the side.

‘Every player wants to play as many minutes as they can,’ he said earlier this season. ‘[Hearts are] flying, we’re doing really well. The guys that are playing are doing really well, so it’s my job to train really well, do as well as I can and then wait for the opportunity. There’s always that bit about when you go away, you’re not in and around the group, so you still want to go and do well and send a message back that I’m still doing well. Hopefully I’ve done that.

‘I recognise that as a team we’re doing really well and we’ve picked up a lot of points, we’re scoring loads of goals. And the guys in the forward lines have done really well. I have to be patient and wait for that opportunity. He [Derek McInnes] knows I want to play and it’s really tough for him. We’ve got a really big squad and he’ll have people knocking on the door, but I have to appreciate that the guys that are in the role are doing really well.

‘Sadly, there’s not much merit if I go to the gaffer, ‘why am I not playing?’ and he goes, ‘well, look at the guys that are playing really well.’ It’s a tough decision for him and I just have to keep doing what I can do to try and put my name in there.’

However, Arsenal are interested in bringing the young striker to north London, although it would be for their Under-21 side rather than the first team.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that a deal is being discussed over what would be an initial loan for Wilson.

Clearly the teenager would only have very distant hopes of making any kind of impression on the first team this season, even if he shines in the Under-21s.

Now they are all fit, Mikel Arteta has the trio of Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz available to him, with all of them vying for places in his starting XI.

Both Gyokeres and Havertz started in the 4-0 win at Leeds on Saturday, with the former scoring, before Jesus came off the bench to score the fourth.

Gyokeres took his goal tally to 11 for the season in all competitions, with six of those coming in the Premier League.

The Swede has had some criticism since his summer move from Sporting, but he is the Gunners’ top scorer both in the Premier League and across all competitions.

Gabriel Martinelli has netted 10 times, but just once in the Premier League.