Arsenal Transfer News: Shock Aaron Ramsey Bid, Hector Moreno Rumours

Arsenal fans will be bracing themselves after hearing the news that Barcelona have set their sights on capturing Aaron Ramsey.

Jack Lang of the Mirror cites the Sun's claim that the Blaugrana are willing to pay an astonishing £50 million fee to obtain the Welshman, despite currently being restricted by a transfer embargo.

Manager Luis Enrique is in the market for a midfielder, with the impending exit of club legend Xavi, and Lang says Barca have scouted the 24-year-old 10 times this year.

However, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has moved quickly to dismiss any talk of Ramsey's departure, claiming he will retain all of his senior players over the summer, as quoted by James Olley of the London Evening Standard: "I believe that all our players want to stay here, all of them. I have no concerns at all."

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Ramsey has developed into one of the Premier League's most potent midfielders over the past two years, scoring 21 goals in 53 starts in the EPL and Europe combined since 2013, per WhoScored.com.

But despite this record, Barca's interest comes as something of a shock, especially with the extraordinary transfer fee that is being considered.

Anton Stanley of talkSPORT quoted former Gunners star Perry Groves discussing Ramsey's possible move to Spain, and the pundit was scathing in his assessment:

"

Arsenal don’t need to sell him. If they do then I would say they will put themselves back four or five years in their bid to win the Premier League title. Now we’re financially secure, he’s the type of player you have to keep, even if you have to give him £170,000 - £200,000 a week. You have to keep Aaron Ramsey.

"

The loss of Ramsey would have serious ramifications for Wenger, but the Welshman has had less of an impact since the arrival of Alexis Sanchez one year ago.

Sanchez has provided the firepower from deep, whereas Ramsey has struggled in recent months. 

But if Wenger could get £50 million for him, they cannot turn down such a sum. Ramsey is not a player who is worth that amount, and Barca would be paying well over the odds if they offer that kind of money.

Wenger to Stiffen Defence with Moreno and Navas

Themba Hadebe/Associated Press

The Gunners will move quickly after the end of the campaign to purchase two solid defensive targets in Hector Moreno and Keylor Navas.

Lewis Rudd of Metro quotes Mexican publication Record's claim that the defender will join the Emirates superclub from Espanyol for £7.1 million.

And George Bellshaw of Metro cites Fichajes.net, which says Arsenal are in pole position to sign Real Madrid goalkeeper Navas, also rated at £7.1 million.

Rudd says Moreno has also attracted the attention of Tottenham Hotspur, but Arsenal lead the race for his signature.

Navas could be surplus to requirements in the Spanish capital if David De Gea joins from Manchester United, per Bellshaw, forcing him to find new employers.

Moreno is a steady influence and would improve Wenger's defence. He is a slick operator but may need a season to settle in the English game—an element the Arsenal boss can ill afford.

Navas is an improvement on the Gunners' current goalkeeping stock, and at the quoted price, he could be one of the bargains of the summer.

The Costa Rican has been one of La Liga's best stoppers in recent years and deserves to be the No. 1 at one of Europe's bigger teams.