Arsenal close to completing signing of Legia Warsaw midfielder Krystian Bielik

Arsenal are reportedly close to completing the singing of young Polish midfielder Krystian Bielik from Legia Warsaw.

According to the London Evening Standard, the youngster was in London for a tour of the facilities and negotiations are said to be at an advanced stage, for a player dubbed the "new Patrick Vieira".

Arsene Wenger is said to be a big admirer of the player and is keen to tie up a deal soon. It is believed that the Gunners will pay the Polish club a fee in the region of £1.6m.

Bielik's parents, who have travelled with him, are convinced that Arsenal is the best destination for their son. The report claims that a long-term contract offer has been agreed, with the teenager set to earn a salary of around £2,000 per week.

However, the delay in the deal is regarding the timing of the move. The current employers of the 16 year-old Legia midfielder, who has made six appearances for the senior team this season, are keen to keep him for the remainder of the season ahead of a summer move to north London.

Bielik, who is more than six feet tall, has been earmarked as a future defensive midfielder or a centre-back, and Wenger is keen to bring him to the Emirates Stadium as soon as possible.

The French manager is on the market for a defensive midfielder, but this signing will not appease the fans, as Arsenal currently lack an experienced tough tackling and ball-playing midfielder. They will hope that the manager addresses those issues in the upcoming January transfer window.

The Gunners have been linked with many a midfielder in recent months, with Everton's James McCarthy and Sevilla's Grzegorz Krychowiak among the names being mentioned.