Arsenal are said to be among the teams keen on Ilaix Moriba, who has impressed at Barcelona.
El Gol Digital says that the Barca youngster has emerged as a target for Arsenal ahead of the summer transfer window.
Ronald Koeman’s side are eager to tie the wonderkid down to a new contract, given his contract deal expires next year, but he is yet to put pen to paper.
Mikel Arteta’s men are now apparently considering making an offer, in an attempt to bring him to Arsenal.
If the Gunners were to land the teenager, he would be a hugely exciting addition to a youthful Arsenal side.
Moriba has made four La Liga appearances for Barca this term, and has already scored for the senior side.
He is considered one of the most promising talents in their academy right now, and has already drawn comparisons with Paul Pogba.
“He’s physically very strong, but he’s also a very intelligent player,” his former coach Denis Silva Puig has previously told Bleacher Report.
“Most people don’t appreciate this. Here he’s called the ‘Pogba of Barca’ because he’s like a young Pogba, but also he is very, very intelligent—and that is his big potential. He is a top player, no doubt.
“He’s a little bit, maybe modern—in the English football kind of sense. It’s good to have him at Barca. The academy can’t be all about the Riqui [Puig]s or the Monchus—small players with a lot of talent. Football trends change every year, every month, but Ilaix is here not because he is tall or strong, but because he is very good in every facet of the game.”
Arsenal, of course, signed Cesc Fabregas from Barca as a youngster – and that move went brilliantly for them.
Arteta would likely be attempting to repeat the trick here, although Moriba is not in any hurry to leave.
The report claims that he is happy as Barca, but if a big money offers comes in from the Premier League then his head could be turned.
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