Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is excited by the prospect of signing Gillingham's 15 year-old striker Lee Freeman.

The initial fee is around £500,000. Gills chairman Paul Scally admitted: "Arsenal have been impeccable in their dealings over this - a lot of clubs could learn from them on how to conduct transfer business."

Wenger added: "I wanted to buy English! We are positive about that.

"We want players as young as possible. If you are not on the case someone else will be. It is a competitive world.

"When good players come out, you know you are not on your own - you are competing with five clubs.

"Ideally, we would wait one or two more years but you cannot wait. Of course, the younger you sign players the margin of error becomes bigger.

"Sometimes you see a player at 13 and think 'Wow, he will be a brilliant player' but then two years later he has disappeared.

"I have met the boy we hope to sign. He has a good personality, he is a striker and at 15 to play for the first team is already something special."