Arsenal's interest in Sander Berge goes back as far as 2017 when he was heavily scouted by the Gunners recruitment team.
The 22-year-old midfielder was subject of interest from Mikel Arteta's side last January but a move didn't come to fruition and he joined Sheffield United for a then-record fee of £22million.
He has since scored two goals in 25 appearances for Chris Wilder's side and it is Arsenal assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg who remains a big fan of the player, after managing him during his spell as Genk head coach in 2017.
“At 18 he is already very mature. He is intelligent, reads the game well, and takes the initiative. He has the potential to become a future leader," said Stuivenberg.
football.london understands that there has been no formal contact between either club recently but Arsenal hold a longstanding interest in the player, with Stuivenberg an obvious keen admirer.
Berge is a ball-winning defensive midfielder who is able to break up play and distribute well with his astute technique and skill. He started his career with Asker Fotball in the Norwegian second division before joining Valerenga in the first division.
After joining Genk he quickly established himself as a regular in midfield, replacing Leicester-bound Wilfried Ndidi and attracting interest from a host of top European sides.
While a January move may be more difficult to happen, if Sheffield United get relegated this season then Berge's departure from the club will be all but confirmed.
Meanwhile, Arsenal remain heavily interested in Red Bull Salzburg star Dominik Szoboszlai and are one of several clubs in contact with the 20-year-old's representatives.
Szoboszlai first appeared on Arsenal's radar last year, as revealed by football.london, and has a release clause of £22.5 million written into his contract.
He's highly admired by Arteta and his coaching staff but the Gunners face stiff competition from the likes of Bayern Munich and Red Bull Leipzig for the Hungarian's signature.
