According to reports from The Daily Mail this morning, Arsenal are considering a bid for Barcelona starlet Sergi Samper.
The 20 year-old midfielder is highly rated at the Nou Camp and made his senior debut for the Catalans at the start of last season, during a 1-0 win over Cypriot outfit APOEL FC in the group stages of the Champions League.
But he’s facing considerable competition from Sergio Busquets for a permanent role in the first team and is concerned his progress could be further stifled by Barcelona B dropping into the Spanish third tier at the end of last season.
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Mirror Football linked the defensive-mid with a move to Liverpool back in April, but according to The Daily Mail Arsenal are now at the front of the queue to sign him this summer.
Arsene Wenger attempted to bring Samper to the Emirates along with Hector Bellerin in 2011, but could have better luck this time around with the Spain U21 said to be ‘seriously considering’ a Premier League move.
Samper’s contract includes an £8.5million release clause – and the Mail claim he’s viewed by Wenger as a long-term replacement to ageing skipper Mikel Arteta.