Transfer Talk: Arsenal eye Barcelona startlet Sergi Samper

Arsenal are reportedly looking to sign 20-year-old Barcelona starlet Sergi Samper. Wenger is keen on raiding Barcelona yet again this summer and could sign the promising Spanish midfielder for just £8.5 million this summer by triggering a release clause in his current contract.

Samper’s contract runs until the summer of 2017 but is reportedly keen to secure a move to the Premier League to establish himself as a top defensive midfielder. For Arsenal, this would provide the perfect balance in the defensive midfield department with Samper providing cover for their midfield enforcer Francis Coquelin.

Elsewhere, Porto are also thought to be keen on getting him on loan but will face stiff competition from a host of European clubs chasing his signature.

Samper played an impressive 90 minutes against APOEL in the Champions League and also went on to make 3 appearances in the Copa Del Rey last season. If things go as Arsenal want them to, Samper could become another one of those captures by Wenger from the famed La Masia academy, joining a list of players consisting of Cesc Fabregas, Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral.

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique is reluctant to let the 20-year-old leave but is unable to guarantee him game-time next season with Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto ahead of him in the first team.

According to sources, Samper wants to play for the first team next season and is keeping his options open after Barcelona B were relegated to the third division. The midfielder would eye a move to North London after watching many La Masia graduates making their name in world football through Arsenal.