Arsenal Transfer News: Sergi Samper Open to Gunners Move, Latest Rumours

Barcelona starlet Sergi Samper is reportedly keen on a move to Arsenal, as he continues to be marginalised at the Camp Nou.

According to “reports in Spain” cited by the Daily Mirror, the holding midfielder would be “willing to accept a move” to the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners considering activating his £8.5 million buyout clause.

The piece also notes that Samper is frustrated at not getting regular chances in the first team. Here’s a look at what he is capable of when he does get out on the pitch:

Arsenal could certainly do with a player of the 20-year-old’s style. Manager Arsene Wenger only really has one top-quality holding midfield player to call upon in Francis Coquelin, and in recent weeks when he hasn’t featured, the Gunners’ notoriously soft centre has been exposed.

As we can see here, courtesy of WhoScored.com, the Frenchman is a massively important player for Arsenal on the defensive side:

Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta are the two men who’d typically deputise for Coquelin, but neither has the dynamism, presence and defensive instincts in their game to give the Gunners a foothold in matches. Needless to say, this is a facet of the squad that Wenger could probably do with improving.

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Samper, potentially, could be the right man to bolster the options in the middle of the park. Stylistically, he’s not quite as combative as Coquelin, but the youngster is an astute reader of the game, forceful in the tackle and very composed when distributing the ball out from the back.

Indeed, given Barcelona’s recent injury issues, with Rafinha and Andres Iniesta suffering problems, it’s pretty peculiar he has yet to be given a chance in the first team, as touched upon here by Spanish football expert Rafael Hernandez:

It’s unknown whether or not Samper is capable of performing at the highest level because he simply hasn’t been given a go by manager Luis Enrique. From the player’s perspective, looking at the dearth of options available to Barcelona in midfield at the moment, you do wonder if Samper isn’t getting a chance now, will he ever?

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Sports journalist Juan Arango thinks Barcelona should be giving more opportunities to young players who have come through their academy:

It’d certainly be a shame from a Barca perspective if Samper was sold. During his academy days, his displays at the base of the midfield did draw comparisons to current first-team star Sergio Busquets. It’d be another La Masia prodigy out the door, too, after the summer sales of Gerard Deulofeu and Adama Traore.

For Arsenal, picking Samper up could potentially be a major coup. While it would take him some time to get acquainted with the aggressive nature of the Premier League, the 20-year-old has all the talents Wenger would typically look for in a young player.

With opportunities likely to be at a premium for the midfielder at the Camp Nou, the Emirates would definitely represent a tantalising proposition.