Arsenal and Spurs linked with PNE’s former Man Utd youth

North London giants Arsenal and Spurs are among a raft of Premier League clubs currently running the rule over Preston North End’s 17-year-old midfielder Josh Brownhill.

Tottenham – who currently sit a point outside the top four in the Premier League and are now 2/1 to gatecrash the Champions League places this term – are the latest side to be linked with the former Manchester United academy player.

Brownhill only broke into the PNE line-up at the start of October, but has already got off the mark for the north-west outfit in League One with a goal against Gillingham.

The Warrington-born whizzkid is yet to sign a professional contract in Lancashire and that has prompted a wave of interest from top-flight clubs seeking a lower-league bargain.

As well as Spurs and the Gunners, Liverpool, Man City, Southampton, Swansea, Fulham and Stoke are all thought to be keeping tabs on Brownhill, who can play at full-back as well as in the middle of the park.

Arsene Wenger is keen to persuade another bourgeoning talent to join the Emirates ranks, having had considerable success when scouring the Football League for rough diamonds in the past.

Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all learned their trade outside the Premier League before being turned into international stars under the watchful eye of the veteran French coach.

The Premier League-leaders and 7/2 joint-second favourites for the title also plucked right-back Carl Jenkinson from League One obscurity at Charlton in 2010 and will look to repeat the trick with Brownhill.

However, the player’s representatives have not ruled out a positive conclusion to contract talks with Preston.

A spokesman for Cassius Management insisted that Brownhill is happy in the north west and wishes to repay the faith that Lilywhites coach Simon Grayson has shown in him this term.