EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal pushing to sign Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati
Steve Kay
- Updated: 24 Aug 2023 08:02 BST
- 3 min read
Arsenal are pushing to sign Ansu Fati of Barcelona, FootballTransfers can exclusively reveal.
Once considered Lionel Messi’s heir at Camp Nou, Ansu has struggled to live up to that billing and has failed to make an impression in Xavi’s first XI during the opening two rounds of matches this season.
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He has been overlooked for young sensation Lamine Yamal, who has performed to such a high level he is poised to receive a call up for the Spain national team’s matches in September. Ferran Torres is also playing well, with those close to the club indicating that the coaches are very happy with his physical development.
Ansu is, therefore, seen as surplus to requirements at Barcelona and is on the transfer list as the club wrestles with financial difficulties that have made it difficult for them to register their new signings this summer.
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Arsenal stepping up Ansu Fati interest
Arsenal have previously held talks with the agent of the 20-year-old but Mikel Arteta and his recruitment team are now ready to step up their interest in the talented winger, who himself has won nine caps and scored two goals for Spain.
FootballTransfers understands that Ansu will insist to remain with Barcelona but that a meeting will take place between Barca president Joan Laporta and the player’s agent Jorge Mendes on Friday during which they will try to persuade the youngster that he should depart for the good of his career.
The Catalans are open to a loan deal – but only if Arsenal are prepared to cover his wages.
Otherwise, they will ask for around €58.5 million (£50m) to complete a permanent transfer. Ansu currently has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €33m, whose peak valuation hit €42m in December 2021.
The attacker has four years left on his Barcelona contract so has the power of determining his future in his own hands, but given Arsenal’s success over the last 12 months and the prospect of few minutes under Xavi, a transfer has to come into his thinking.
