Gunners swoop for Mexican starlet Vela

MEXICAN outfit Guadalajara have confirmed their young striker Carlos Vela has agreed a move to Arsenal.

The 16-year-old has yet to make his professional debut with Guadalajara, but caught the eye of the Premiership side after his five goals in six matches helped Mexico win the Under-17 World Cup in Peru.

Vela’s father Enrique told the Mexican media his son was set to move to England, and Guadalajara have now confirmed the deal. “It’s official that Carlos Vela, the Under-17 world champion, now belongs to Arsenal,” said a club statement.

Vice president Nestor De La Torre continued: “We made three changes to his contract, all of which were accepted by Arsenal.

“I asked them what sporting project they had in mind for Carlos and they told me that they were planning to loan him out to another team in order to develop before playing in the Premiership.

“The sporting rights of Vela will go to Arsenal for five years. If Arsenal decided to sell Carlos the first option would go to Chivas (Guadalajara).”

Velas, who will link up with his new colleagues next week, will follow in the footsteps of leading international goalscorer Jared Borgetti, the first Mexican to play in the Premiership, who joined Bolton earlier this year.

However the Gunners have not had any contact with Spanish striker Fernando Torres in the last 18 months, according to the player’s agent.

Arsene Wenger is understood to want to bring the 21-year-old Atletico Madrid forward to Highbury next year as the perfect foil for Thierry Henry and Jose Antonio Reyes.

Arsenal scout Steve Rowley was spotted at Atletico’s match against Sevilla last weekend to watch Torres in action but the player’s agent Jose Antonio Martin remains adamant that the two parties have not spoken for a long time.

“The last time I spoke with Arsenal was a year and a half ago,” Martin insisted. “As of today, there has been no contact.”

A clause in Torres’ contract will allow him to quit the club for £60m and that price may frighten the Londoners into making a move for him.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid will auction David Beckham’s club shirt on their official website in order to raise funds to help children in central America.

The Spanish outfit will also put under the hammer signed shirts of Real captain Raul and Brazilian striker Robinho.

The money raised will be used to acquire school equipment and toys for children in Guatemala and El Salvador after both nations were devastated last month by Hurricane Stan.