Arsenal plot move for German youngster Julian Brandt

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is rumoured to have spoken with Andries Jonker - the Gunners' incoming director of youth development - regarding a potential transfer move for Bayer Leverkusen's 18-year-old forward Julian Brandt.

Andries Jonker personally oversaw much of Brandt's early development at Wolfsburg and was said to be gutted that the German side would let the 17-year-old starlet quit in favour of a move to Bayer Leverkusen. Brandt arrived at Leverkusen in a deal worth an estimated £5 million just three weeks ago.

Jonker now has recommended that Arsenal make a bid to Leverkusen for the immensely talented forward and the Gunners are said to be readying their first offer to Bayer's director of football, Rudi Voller.

Bayer Leverkusen had beaten Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich to Brandt's signature, but an estimated 12 million Euro bid should be enough to persuade his new club to let the youngster leave only six months after his arrival.