English top club Arsenal are showing interest in Sturm Graz talent Luca Weinhandl. The 17-year-old midfielder is now on the radar of several Premier League sides, including Brighton and Aston Villa. A move for the Austrian could materialise as early as the upcoming winter transfer window for a fee of around £17 million.
The speculation around Weinhandl comes as Sturm Graz sit fourth in the Austrian Bundesliga. With 11 points from six matches, Christian Ilzer's team are just four points behind leaders Lask Linz. Recent form shows a solid run of two wins, two draws and one loss from the last five games. The squad is now preparing for the next major test, an away trip to third-placed Red Bull Salzburg on 20 September.
For Sturm Graz, selling Weinhandl would represent significant income but also mean another talent departing from their academy. The club has a history of developing and selling players like Kevin Danso or Rasmus Højlund. The current season has started with an attacking flair, netting eight goals while conceding six. The current top scorer is N. Weiper with two goals in four appearances.
In an injury-hit squad, Emran Soglo and Seedy Jatta are currently sidelined. Sturm Graz's sporting director has not issued an official comment on the specific transfer rumours. The club would enter negotiations for a serious offer in the reported fee region. A winter move would allow Weinhandl to see out the current campaign in Graz. The coming weeks will reveal if the interest from English clubs turns into concrete talks. Preparations for the Salzburg match this weekend are the immediate focus for the team.
