Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United handed potential boost in £25m winger chase

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A number of Premier League sides will be boosted by the news that Real Sociedad are lining up a move for Ruben Rochina.

Rochina, who joined Blackburn Rovers from Barcelona B in 2011, is currently on loan with La Liga side Rayo Vallecano having failed to make much of an impact at Ewood Park. Whilst his statistics may not be earth-shattering, the 22-year-old has impressed for Paco Jemez’s side.

Those displays have attracted the interest of fellow La Liga side Real Sociedad, but the youngster is potentially being eyed up as a replacement for French star Antoine Griezmann, who has been vital for Jagoba Arrasate’s men this season, with an impressive record of 19 goals in 38 games.

Griezmann, 22, has a growing reputation in European football, and his outstanding performances in Spain have recently caught the eye of Premier League sides such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United – and the news that Sociedad have lined up Rochina as a cost-effective replacement for the France international will be a big boost to all three clubs.

Arsenal are seeking more attacking additions in the summer and have been linked with swoops for the likes of Julian Draxler of Schalke, Hakan Calhanoglu of Hamburg and Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado, but Wenger has famously been fond of signing French players during his time at the club, and having witnessed ex-Gunner Carlos Vela’s development in San Sebastian, he could be tempted into moving for Griezmann.

Chelsea are seemingly the least likely to move for Griezmann, with Jose Mourinho already having an abundance of attacking players at his disposal. Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah are competing for three places in Mourinho’s side, and adding another in Griezmann could make things even more complicated at the top end of the field for the Blues.

Meanwhile, Manchester United added Juan Mata in the January transfer window but could still stand to add a natural wide man, with Nani, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young potentially leaving Old Trafford in the summer. Griezmann would likely command a fee in the region of £25m, but with money to spend, Moyes can afford to splash out for the French winger, with Sociedad seemingly willing to let him leave.