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Birmingham City are plotting a swoop for Arsenal’s teenage playmaker Dan Crowley.

Gary Rowett is prepared to utilise the loan market as he builds his squad for the Championship campaign and former Aston Villa youngster Crowley is among his targets.

The 18-year-old midfielder is highly rated at the Emirates Stadium having been plucked from Villa’s Bodymoor Heath academy in 2013. Villa were frustrated that they only got an initial £200,000 compensation payment from Arsenal.

Crowley, who is from Coventry, has been likened to Gunners and England star Jack Wilshere.

He signed his first professional contract with Arsene Wenger’s men in August last year, scoring 10 goals in 29 appearances for various Arsenal youth teams last season.

Wenger rates Crowley, who has represented England at various age group levels, but the teenager’s path to the first team at Arsenal is blocked by an A-list including Wilshere, Mezut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta.

If Wenger decides to allow Crowley out on loan to gain experience in the 2015-16 campaign Blues can expect to face competition from Premier League and Championship clubs. Blues have had strong links with Arsenal in recent years, signing Seb Larsson and Fabrice Muamba from the Gunners and taking Johan Djourou and Nicklas Bendtnder on loan.

Rowett has made four signings so far this summer, snapping up winger Jacques Maghoma, striker Alex Jones and goalkeepers Tomasz Kuszczak and Adam Legzdins.