Arsenal scouts have written “glowing evaluations” after Kaiu Elias impressed in a recent game for Shakhtar Donetsk, according to reports.

The Sun claim that Gunners representatives were in the stands as the 20-year-old scored a perfect hat-trick against Kudrivka on Monday.

All three of Elias’s goals were scored in the second half during a 5-1 win, finding the net with his head, left foot and right foot.

The Brazilian is already rated very highly by Shakhtar, having joined them from Fluminense at the beginning of last year. The Ukrainian club reportedly value him at around £30m.

Arsenal have a longstanding interest in the forward

The Gunners were first linked with Elias all the way back in October 2023, when journalist Thiago Ferreira reported that the London club were “interested” in the player, along with his teammate Andre Trindade.

Since then, the young striker has gone on to make 94 senior appearances for both Fluminense and Shakhtar, scoring 23 goals.

It seems as if the recruitment team have been keeping a very close eye on Elias’s progress over the past three years. It remains to be seen whether they will recommend him to sporting director Andrea Berta as a top transfer target, but he is clearly highly thought of.

Elias does have other suitors

The Sun report that Manchester United also had a scout in attendance as the Brazilian scored three goals for Shakhtar earlier this week, while AC Milan and Porto are monitoring his situation as well.

It is believed that the two Premier League clubs would be favourites for Elias’s signature, as they would be more willing to match Shakhtar’s asking price in full.

The Ukrainian side are fully aware of the 20-year-old’s potential, and they are not intending to let him leave on the cheap if an approach is made for him this summer or in a future transfer window.