OPINION
If north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham are not battling out on the pitch, there is every chance that they will end up battling off it when it comes to the summer transfer window.
After years of domination for the Gunners, the two sides are now both battling it out in the top six, with the Lilywhites to dominant force with three consecutive top four finishes, Arsenal falling to the back of the chasing pack.
Still, with the money that both clubs possess, they are now fighting it out for the same transfer targets, and as there can only be one winner, it is an opportunity to get one over their rivals before the season even kicks off.
Top journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, who works for Sky Sports and is widely regarded as a transfer king as a result of his reputable knowledge and insight, claims on his personal website that the north London pair are both battling it out for Barcelona’s Andre Gomes this summer, with Unai Emery’s side said to be leading the two horse chase.
However, with the Portuguese international reportedly available for a price tag of £35.3million (€40million), Tottenham must sink their rivals for the maestro as they look to replace the seemingly exit-bound Mousa Dembele, who is likely to be sold with just a year left on his contract.
Yes, Gomes is much more attack minded than the Belgian, but he still possesses many of the qualities as his central counterpart, including his physicality and height as well as his technical ability on the ball.
At 24-years-old, the Barca man is a long-term replacement, and although he might not have been a regular starter at the Bernabeu, 31 appearances prove he was still trusted by the Catalan giants.
Arsenal are currently ahead in the transfer stakes, Emery wasting no time in getting recruitment underway, and as such Mauricio Pochettino must dash their hopes of adding another quality addition to their ranks with a swoop for Gomes.