Newcastle United have made a £15.5 million bid for Wilmar Barrios while the Zenit St Petersburg enforcer is also courting interest from Arsenal, according to Jeunex Footeaux.
If the Colombian international is on his way to England, expect a spicy encounter when Jordan Henderson and Liverpool travel to St James’ Park or the Emirates next season.
Barrios certainly left his mark, quite literally, on the Premier League-winning captain during Colombia’s fiery World Cup clash with England two years ago; somehow avoiding a red card for the most blatant of headbutts which sent Henderson sprawling.
“This is a joke. It is a stonewall red card,” Gary Neville said during ITV’s coverage (3 July, 8pm) while former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg accused Barrios of a ‘pre-meditated attack’.
Accumulating 12 yellow cards as Zenit secured the Russian league title in 2020, clearly Barrios still has a rather hot head on those square shoulders.
But it is exactly that competitive streak which explains why Arsenal want him, although the former Boca Juniors man will have to toe the line under a disciplinarian like Arteta.
According to Jeunes Footeaux, Arsenal think Barrios can add some much-needed bite at the heart of a midfield which, at times, appears to contain more divas than dynamos.
Newcastle, however, have made the first move with a £15.5 million bid – one which Zenit have dismissed out of hand.
With Mike Ashley sticking around for now, it remains to be seen whether the Magpies will increase that offer with no Saudi billionaires to bankroll a summer splurge.
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