The agent of young Sporting CP star Joelson Fernandes claims Arsenal made an attempt to sign his client.

The teenager has been linked with a host of clubs around Europe over the past few months.

According to his agent and father, the Gunners bid around £18 million but the offer was rejected.

"It had to be a thoughtful decision, because my wish as a father and agent, on the day that Joelson Fernandes leaves Sporting, is to be friendly and through the big door, but not through the back door," Eusebio Mango Fernandes told Guinea Bissau news outlet O Democrata.

"It was an extremely difficult and very complicated process, because there were tough moments in the negotiations for Joelson Fernandes to stay at Sporting.

"My wish was always for him to stay at the club, but due to his quality as a footballer, he had calls from several European clubs.

"Despite these very tempting offers, as an agent, I ended up dispensing with these invitations, despite knowing that I needed those millionaire offers, but I thought that in life money isn't everything, because we must be aware that there's a word called 'gratitude', for that, we are grateful to Sporting for what they gave."