Arsenal Transfer News: Sergi Samper Rumours Addressed by Barcelona VP

Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre has revealed he is hopeful of keeping Sergi Samper at the club but failed to rule out a move for the reported Arsenal target.

Reports emerged suggesting the young midfielder was keen on making a move to the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners pondering whether to activate his £8.5 million buyout clause. Mestre was quizzed on what the future may hold for the club’s young players and specifically referred to Samper’s situation.

“[On B youngsters], our plan is to keep them and support the [B] team, especially [Sergi] Samper, who has sacrificed so much for the club and opted to stay,” he said, per Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Espana on Eurosport). “If they want to go then we’ll see, but only if [buy-back] clauses are involved.”

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Gerard Deulofeu and Adama Traore both left Barcelona in permanent deals in the previous transfer window, with both having buy-back clauses inserted into their respective contracts with Everton and Aston Villa.

Samper has stayed with Barcelona despite the aforementioned reports of interest from the Gunners, but so far this season, despite the injury crisis that has decimated the team’s midfield, he has yet to make an appearance in the first team. Here’s a reminder of what the youngster can offer at his very best:

Arsenal could certainly do with a player of Samper’s style. The Barcelona man is an excellent reader of the game, superb at breaking up opposition attacking moves and has an elegance on the ball that would surely appeal to Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. For £8.5 million, he’d represent a major bargain too.

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Samper is at an age at which he will want to be getting regular games at the highest level. He turns 21 in January and needs to start getting consistent minutes on the field; if Barcelona in their current state can’t accommodate him in the XI, then you do wonder whether they will ever be able to.

As noted by Twitter account La Masia, Samper has been performing well in a central-midfield role for Barcelona B:

Although Mestre has insisted the Blaugrana are keen on keeping hold of Samper, something drastic will need to happen in the next few months for him to get the playing time he needs. Playing for Barcelona B in the third tier of Spanish football will do little for the midfielder’s development, and the prospect of a move elsewhere will be getting increasingly enticing.

Arsenal seem a perfect fit for Samper should he decide to move on, with his stylistic traits seemingly tailor-made to slot in at the base of the Gunners’ midfield. A club of the Arsenal’s stature is unlikely to agree to a buy-back option, but if the youngster continues to be marginalised at Camp Nou, they’d have to fancy their chances of getting a deal done.