Stephan El Shaarawy is Arsenal loan target, hints agent

Stephan El Shaarawy's agent has confirmed that Arsenal have shown an interest in the AC Milan starlet, with the 19-year-old poised to go on loan next season.

Promising: AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy

El Shaarawy is rated as one of the hottest prospects in Italian football, having joined Milan for £10 million in a co-ownership deal with Genoa last summer.

However, despite his blossoming reputation, the fleet-footed forward has struggled to break through at Milan, making just 18 appearances this season, many of which have come from the bench, and has scored just twice.

As such, speculation has been rife that Milan are ready to loan El Shaarawy out for next season in order to get him regular game time, and according to his agent Roberto La Florio, Arsenal are one of those interested.

'Arsenal have always admired him - even before he transferred to Milan, but the Rossoneri have already agreed to his ownership, and I do not know if they'll let him go.'

A final decision on whether the teenager will be allowed to leave the San Siro will come at the end of the current campaign, but speaking last month, El Shaarawy did little to distance himself from rumours linking him with England, suggesting he'd be perfect for the Premier League.

'I really like the English game. Many people always tell me that I have the characteristics to play in the Premier League,' he said.

'Honestly, I like it a lot, both in terms of environment and football.'

Arsenal are known to have watched El Shaarawy in the Italian Cup earlier this season, and again for Italy's Under-21's, but are thought to only be interested in a permanent deal.

El Shaarawy is currently contracted to Milan until 2016.