Arsenal are ready to push ahead with their attempts to sign Sergi Samper by tabling an £8.4m bid to trigger the release clause in his Barcelona contract, according to the Express.
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Widely regarded as the future replacement to Sergio Busquets, Samper is everything you could ask for a defensive midfielder who plays for Barcelona: great defender, great passer, great vision, calm, poise and stamina to endure 90 minutes of protecting the defense and building up plays.
A classic Barca holding midfielder, Samper’s strength is in keeping possession but not at the expense of moving the ball forward purposefully.
Samper, 20, is highly rated by Barcelona and the elegant pass-master has spent his whole career developing through the club’s famous youth ranks.
It looks like Arsene Wenger will never give up on buying Barcelona B wonder-kids and bringing them to Arsenal to become the next Cesc Fàbregas.
Barcelona-based paper Mundo Deportivo dedicated its front page to the story on Wednesday with the headline: ‘Wenger attacks again.’.
Mundo Deportivo claim Wenger has previous for interest in Samper, having tried to prise him away in 2011 at the same time he shared Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral.
Despite the low buyout clause the La Liga champions will fight to keep Samper.
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Despite a growing reputation, the 20-year-old has still not made a first-team league appearance for his current club. If given the opportunity, Samper could develop into a player far better than Schneiderlin.
