Arsenal have launched a €35m (£24m) bid for Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets, according to Spanish source Fichajes (via the Metro).
Arsene Wenger could well do with a fresh defensive midfield addition, and experienced Spanish international Busquets is one of the best in the business.
Last season, the North London side were heavily reliant on Francis Coquelin, who had been ushered back to the Emirates Stadium from his loan spell at Charlton Athletic, and the French utility man duly delivered.
Coquelin’s superb performances in the centre of the park during the second half of the 2014/15 season coincided with the Gunners’ good run of form, which saw Arsenal clinch a top-four finish and an FA Cup triumph.
Wenger doesn’t have a host of defensively-minded midfield options and Fichajes (via the Metro) believe Busquets would be seen as a replacement for veteran Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal man having suffered with injuries in recent seasons.
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It would surely prove a tough proposition to convince Busquets to leave a Barcelona side that secured a memorable treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League triumphs last term.
The long-serving Nou Camp star played a pivotal role in Luis Enrique’s first-team plans in 2014/15 with the 27-year-old, making 47 appearances in all competitions.
Arsenal are ready to offer substantially more than their initial £24m bid according to Fichajes (via the Metro) in order to secure the world-class midfield battler.