Arsenal have received a massive blow in their pursuit of Polish wonderkid Krystian Bielik after the 17-year-old flew to Hamburg to open discussions with the Bundesliga club over a potential transfer.

Arsene Wenger is a huge fan of the player and has earmarked him as an answer to Arsenal's midfield problems in the future. The Gunners have already had a bid rejected for the player and are contemplating over a new offer, which has given Legia Warsaw the opportunity to allow Bielik to visit clubs across Europe and consider a potential deal if the opportunity arises.

The player will come in as a direct replacement for Kristopher Olsson, who completed a permanent transfer out of Arsenal in the first week of January, as Wenger tries to improve his youth setup and compete with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.

"Krystian is in Hamburg. Germany is very determined. For them money does not matter, but let's see how things become after final talks with Arsenal," Legia Warsaw president Boguslaw Lesnodorski confirmed the trip on Polish daily Przeglad Sportowy.

Bielik had previously stated that he had made up his mind on Arsenal and a final deal will happen in the next few days. However, with Arsenal unwilling to shell out the required cash, the transfer has stalled with Lesnodorski testing Arsenal's patience by sending the player on trials across Europe.

The news will come as a major setback for Arsenal fans who have trodden this path before where the Gunners missed out on important targets for their reluctance to shell out the required amount.

However, Arsene Wenger has recently revealed that he is working hard on transfers and is confident that a deal can be struck before the window closes in February.

The Gunners are currently positioned sixth on the table, three points adrift of a top four spot with 18 games left in the season.