When super-agent Jonathan Barnett told The Athletic recently we should expect to see some of his most coveted clients seal big-money moves this summer, you’d have been forgiven for assuming he was talking about Liverpool-bound Ibrahima Konate or Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish.
Instead, it’s an 18-year-old midfielder who appears to be on the move.
However, as anyone who saw Rennes storm to a third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season will tell you, Eduardo Camavinga is no ordinary 18-year-old.
There’s a reason why just about every European superclub worth its salt has been linked with Camavinga during the past 12 months or so, with the youngster today directly addressing links with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich (Telefoot).
Le10 Sport has now thrown Arsenal’s name into the frame, which is hardly surprising. It’s no secret Mikel Arteta’s side wants a stylish, box-to-box midfielder to partner Thomas Partey, with Camavinga joining Yves Bissouma, Denis Zakaria and Sander Berge in contention.
“Being the best midfielder in the world, that’s how I see (Camavinga’s) future,” Barnett told Goal recently. “(With) a lot of medals and a lot of trophies.
“Eduardo will have a choice of a lot of clubs if Rennes decide to release him. Eduardo would love to play for a top club. (Real) Madrid are one of those top clubs in the world, so are Barcelona.”
Barnett didn’t mention Arsenal, or any other Premier League club for that matter, when discussing those potential landing spots for his much-coveted client. Make of that what you will.
But it may be Barnett’s next remark that all but rules Arsenal out of the race.
When asked whether Camavinga would cost more than £45 million, the agent made his feelings clear: “I would think so.”
While Mikel Arteta could be handed a bigger budget than expected this summer, would Arsenal really invest £45 million in one player – a teenager no less – when the club is also in the market for a goalkeeper, left-back and centre-forward?
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