.... from under the nose of Fulham

Wenger has taken a close look at King Gyan Osei.

King Gyan OseiI want to play for the Black Stars right now

Arsene Wenger is believed to be monitoring the progress of Ghanaian midfielder King Gyan Osei.

The 20-year-old is currently plying his trade in the Belgian league with Germinal Beerschot, on loan from Premier League Fulham and rumoured to be making a possible return to England in January if not selected for the African Cup of Nations.

Arsenal provide an interesting twist to the Gyan Osei saga, with the Gunners reportedly monitoring the player since May. The Emirates club are also thought to have sent scouts across europe to watch the central midfield dynamo, with Gilles Grimandi a former player taking a look at the emerging talent.

A recognised hotbed for young African footballers with raw talent, Wenger has an impressive track record when it comes to picking young talent and developing them into Premier League stars.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson wouldn't want to lose such a promising player without a fight however, and the Cottagers have been impressed with Gyan Osei during his 57-game-spell so far.

Loaned out for three years to sort out issues over a work permit, the west London club now feel they have the tools in place to secure a switch back to England.

Making his full international debut in 2008, Gyan Osei has an outside chance of going to the Cup of Nations, and has previously stated his intentions to force his way into the Black Stars setup on a regular basis.

“I want to play for the Black Stars right now, but I know that I have to play for the youth team first," Osei told ModernGhana.com.

"I want to be invited to play in the youth team first so that I can prove that I am good enough to play for the Black Stars."