English Premier League duo Arsenal and Chelsea are scouting Espanyol starlet Ruben Alcaraz Herraiz.

 

The youngster currently turns out for Espanyol’s Junior A side and is the team’s current top scorer with 15 goals to his name.

 

Known as "Rufo", the Spaniard wears the number 10 shirt for his side and, according to Catalan daily Sport, has been watched closely by scouts from both Arsenal and Chelsea.

 

The English giants have had talent-spotters in and around Catalonia for the last few days with the aim of checking up on promising youngsters in the region, which is a hotbed of footballing potential.

 

Espanyol are aware that the 18-year-old is attracting attention from clubs that would like to snatch him away from the Estadi Cornella-El Prat and coach Mauricio Ponchettino has already informed the starlet that he is an important part of the side’s future.

 

Indeed, "Rufo" has already trained with Espanyol’s senior team in a display of how highly regarded he is by the Magico and it is only a matter of time until he graces La Liga.

 

And with Espanyol also experiencing financial difficulties in recent times, the Catalan outfit will not want to lose such a promising prospect before his potential has been truly established and his price raised accordingly.

 

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