Arsenal are ready to ramp up their interest in Barcelona youngster Jose Arnaiz and could even trigger his release clause in January, according to reports in Spain.
The 22-year-old only moved to Camp Nou from Valladolid in the summer and has scored four goals for Barcelona B – second only to the highly rated Carles Alena.
However, unlike Alena, Arnaiz has received little exposure to the first team, save for two appearances in the Copa del Rey against Real Murcia, and is yet to make his La Liga bow.
And now Spanish newspaper Marca report that Arsenal are trying to lure the striker to north London and are weighing up a January move.
Although Arnaiz only cost €3.4 million (£3m), the Gunners are prepared to deposit the release clause that was written into his Barca contract of €20m (£17m).
Arsenal’s move would be a huge blow for Barcelona, who have struggled to keep hold of a number of La Masia talents recently, such as Jordi Mboula, who joined Monaco, and Eric Garcia, who joined Manchester City.
Arsene Wenger has also famously raided Barca’s academy in the past, taking Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin for nominal fees when they were still teenagers.
Arnaiz is believed to be content at Barcelona, though that could change if Arsenal and Wenger ramp up their interest.
The Spaniard would be tempted to move to the Emirates if he is offered a chance in the first team, while it will also offer the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of compatriots like Fabregas, Bellerin and Santi Cazorla.
There could be one complication in that UEFA rules only allow a player to represent a maximum of three clubs in a season, with Barcelona and their B side counting as two different teams, while he was also registered for Valladolid.
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