Brighton have been keeping an eye on Estoril youngster Jordan Arnolin. And it turns out they’re in some pretty good company, with Barcelona also taking a serious interest in the 18-year-old defender.
The Portuguese youngster is starting to make a name for himself, and his latest appearance against Porto gave Europe’s scouts another chance to see what he’s about.
It was a big night for Arnolin personally. Estoril lost 4-0, but the teenager made his first senior start. And he did so playing out of his usual position.
Barcelona take a closer look at Brighton target
Portuguese newspaper Record report that Barcelona sent a scout to the Estádio do Dragão on Sunday only to watch Arnolin.
The Catalans have been following him since his first appearance for Portugal’s U18s. He’s since made the step up to the U19s, and the interest has only grown.
There’s another detail Barcelona seem to particularly like. Arnolin is naturally a centre-back, but he played as a defensive midfielder against Porto. And that versatility is apparently a big part of his appeal.
And Barcelona aren’t the only ones watching. Record say Brighton and French side Lille have also been keeping close tabs on the youngster. Lille also had someone at the Porto match.
So there’s already quite a crowd following Arnolin, although nobody appears to have made a formal move just yet.
What this means for Brighton
At 18, Arnolin is only just getting started at senior level. Brighton would obviously need to see plenty more before deciding whether to take their interest any further.
Still, there’s a lot to like about his profile. He can play in two positions, he’s already representing Portugal at youth level, and he’s now getting his first proper opportunities with Estoril.
Football runs in the family too. His father, Grégory Arnolin, spent part of his playing career in Portugal with clubs including Marítimo and Gil Vicente.
The one thing Brighton may need to worry about is how long Barcelona have been watching.
Record explain that the Spanish club, whose scouting department is headed by Portuguese chief scout João Amaral, have followed Arnolin for quite a while. And Sunday’s trip to Porto shows they’re still very keen.
For now, Brighton have a promising youngster on their radar, and Barcelona seem to agree he’s worth watching.
Whether Arnolin gets more chances at Estoril could be important. The club are going through a rough patch, with manager Sérgio Raimundo under pressure after consecutive defeats.
That makes his next few weeks interesting. More first-team football would give Brighton a better look at him, and they’ll certainly have some competition in the stands.
