London - English Premier League giants Arsenal look to have won the race to sign teenage Welsh starlet Aaron Ramsey, ahead of champions Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton, it emerged on Tuesday. The 17-year-old Cardiff City midfielder has revealed that the Emirates Stadium is his favoured destination and the two clubs are now sorting out personal terms on a 5-million-pound (9.9 million dollars) fee.
Arsenal flew Ramsey out to the Swiss city of Basle to meet Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager who is at Euro 2008, and it seems the Frenchman worked his magic.
"Cardiff City were informed on Friday morning that Aaron Ramsey's preferred destination this summer is at the Emirates Stadium with Arsenal," Cardiff said in a statement.
"We will now continue the dialogue with the Gunners with a view to Aaron's move being completed. The move, unlike other options, however, does not include a loan-back period at Ninian Park for the 2008-09 season."