Arsenal line up bid for Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-yeung [Korean Gerrard]

Arsenal are plotting a shock move for Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-yeung after rubber-stamping their £16.5million move for Santi Cazorla.

Gunners spies were alerted to the South Korea international’s talents while on scouting assignments in Scotland last season.

The club’s scouting network have kept a closer eye on the 23-year-old — who has been dubbed the South Korean Steven Gerrard in his homeland — during the Olympic Games and have been suitably impressed.

Crucially, influential chief scout Steve Rowley rates Ki — who would be available for around £9million —very highly and will recommend the energetic midfielder to manager Arsene Wenger.

Ki, who scored South Korea’s decisive spot kick in their penalty shootout win over Great Britain in the Olympic quarter-finals on Saturday, is also wanted by Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes.

Arsenal are also interested in Ki’s club team-mate Victor Wanyama, who was watched by Wenger’s scouts in Celtic’s recent pre-season defeat by Norwich.