Arsenal manager Unai Emery wants to bring Barcelona’s Andre Gomes to Arsenal, and is willing to agree to the sales of other players to bring in the midfielder.
Although the Portuguese has struggled at Camp Nou in his time there, Emery sees qualities in the midfielder that would fit how he wants to play.
One issue is that Arsenal’s transfer budget is relatively limited, although this summer has been the first where Sven Mislintat has influence in purchases, and it has already seen the club make a number of astute deals. Gomes could similarly fit that profile despite his difficult spell in Catalunya.
Should the Gunners be able to get a deal over the line for the 24-year-old he would become their fourth new addition of an already busy summer as Mislintat takes a more hands on role in recruitment.
Stefan Lichtsteiner arrived on a free transfer from Juventus, goalkeeper Bernd Leno joined from Bayer Leverkusen before Sokratis Papastathopoulos completed his move from Mislintat’s former club Borussia Dortmund on Monday.
A deal for Sampdoria’s Lucas Torreira remains in the works with Uruguay’s continued participation in this summer’s World Cup in Russia an added complication.
Barca would still want around £30m for the midfielder, but Emery is hugely interested, and would be willing to sacrifice other sales.
