Arsenal and West Ham United scouting Reading’s Under-21 captain

Arsenal and West Ham United are reportedly set to go head-to-head in a bid to land England Under-20 international Aaron Kuhl, according to Transfermarketweb.

The Premier League duo, who currently sit third and fifth in the English top-flight standings respectively and are both in FA Cup quarter-final action this weekend against Watford and Manchester United, have both been scouting Reading’s highly-rated central midfielder and Under-21 captain throughout this term.

The 20-year-old; who has been capped once for England Under-20 side, has not featured for the Championship club’s first-team this season, but enjoyed a recent loan spell at Scottish Premiership outfit Dundee United – making seven appearances.

Kuhl, who is out of contract this summer, made eight first-team appearances for the Royals during the 2014-15 campaign.

Upon becoming a free agent in the next few months, if both the Gunners and Hammers were to win the race to land Kuhl, they would have to cough up a compensation fee for Reading’s youngster.