Arsenal Transfer News: Sergi Samper a Smart Target for Arsene Wenger

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is smart to line up a deal for FC Barcelona prospect Sergi Samper. The young midfielder is the right target for a squad that will soon need an overhaul in the middle.

Wenger is reportedly planning to pay as much as €24 million to sign Samper, along with exciting young forward Munir El Haddadi, in January. That's according to Catalan newspaper Sport (h/t Mirror reporter Ben Burrows):

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The paper suggests that Arsene Wenger is a big fan and is ready to trigger the €12million release clauses in both players' contracts.

Wenger is well aware that if and when the duo break into the Blaugrana first team proper their prices will rocket up and is keen to do a deal ASAP.

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The only note of caution is that Sport writer Paul Gibblin appears to credit the origin of this convoluted rumour as the Daily Mail. Rumours that start in one place, are recycled in another, then bounced back to the point of origin don't usually have the ring of truth.

However, it's not too difficult to believe a manager as willing to give young players a chance as Wenger is would be interested in two of Barca's brightest prospects.

Munir will be a tough get as his reputation continues to rise. Spain assistant Toni Grande recently compared the 19-year-old to national team legend Raul, during an interview with Radio Barcelona, per Goal.com.

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Munir has already made two appearances in Barca's first team to start the new season. He netted a goal during the club's 3-0 win over Elche to begin its La Liga campaign.

It's safe to count on Barca safeguarding this rapidly rising attacking talent. Samper might be a different case, though.

He's been hovering on the fringes of the first team for a little longer than Munir. That means his impatience has only grown.

Manager Luis Enrique has assured Samper he will be given opportunities this season, according to Mirror writer John Cross. However, it's difficult to see where and when those opportunities will present themselves.

Samper is a centralised playmaker who can link every area of a team via quick, clever and accurate distribution.

Still just 19, Samper has already drawn comparisons to some of the game's best withdrawn schemers, per Mirror writer Sam Marsden, citing the Catalan press:

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There have also been endless comparisons during the last 16 years, particularly recently. Another Barcelona-based newspaper, Mundo Deportivo, likened Samper to Italian passing machine Andrea Pirlo, while another journalist at SPORT suggested he harboured the best aspects of both Sergio Busquets and Xavi.

One that particularly sticks, though, and one that serves as a heavy load on the back of any teenager hoping to make it at Camp Nou is the connection to Josep Guardiola. It's been over two decades since the Bayern Munich manager, skinny and sporting the number four on his back, helped Johan Cruyff's Dream Team to the European Cup - the first, unbelievably, in the club's history - but now, it's whispered quietly, Barca have at last found the modern day Guardiola.

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Samper's most obvious fit is perhaps a deep-lying role in the middle. Yet that's exactly where things are a little crowded at the moment for the Blaugrana.

Sergio Busquets owns the position designed to shield the defence. While he seems to have been around for ever, the ex-Barca B team ace is still only 26. He's shown little sign of slowing down and there's no reason why Enrique would replace him.

Aside from Busquets, there's also the presence of new boy Ivan Rakitic to consider. The former Sevilla maestro is a tough and resourceful schemer, one who combines tenacity with flair.

Rakitic can play further forward but is also very comfortable in more defensive areas. Like Busquets, Rakitic is only 26 and is sure to be a feature in the Barcelona midfield for more than a few years.

Since signing centre-backs Jeremy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen this summer, Enrique can even use rugged veteran Javier Mascherano in his natural defensive midfield position more often this season.

With this calibre of options in front of him, it's difficult to believe Samper will see the field as a first-teamer very often. Appearances in the Copa del Rey and possibly dead-rubber matches in the UEFA Champions League group stage seem more in his immediate future.

However, that future would look very different at Arsenal. Samper would likely be thrust into a prominent role much sooner than he imagines.

Ageing pair Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini currently share the deepest role in Arsenal's midfield. Flamini is 30 and doesn't always exhibit the positional discipline needed to adequately protect a back four.

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As for Arteta, his classy passing, savvy and awareness are invaluable for the Gunners. However, the clock is ticking on the 32-year-old's career.

A one-time Barca product himself, Arteta's lack of dominant physicality can be a problem. But his presence as Arsenal's de facto shielding midfielder speaks to the kind of player Wenger wants at the position.

The French boss has always favoured technical qualities over those of the more robust variety. He would welcome a player with Samper's high level of education in fluid, possession-based football.

The youngster's passing radar would perfectly suit a midfield fit to burst with players who are defined by their guile in possession.

Samper would join 22-year-old Jack Wilshere and 23-year-old Aaron Ramsey as a midfield trio that would sustain Arsenal in the top echelons of the Premier League for the next decade.

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Wenger knows the time for a refresh in the middle is rapidly approaching. He'll also know that his current alternatives are thin.

Abou Diaby is sadly far too brittle to be counted on. The U-21 side offers prospective stars such as Gedion Zelalem and Dan Crowley, but both are more suited to attacking roles.

If Wenger's looking for his next deep-lying hub of possession, Samper is the smartest target he'll find.