Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Gabriel Barbosa, Mesut Ozil Rumours

Arsenal have reportedly joined the list of clubs interested in Brazilian forward Gabriel Barbosa, with Chelsea and Manchester United also linked with the Santos man. Meanwhile Mesut Ozil gave the fans a slight scare by keeping the door open on a Bundesliga return, with Bayern Munich said to be looking at the Germany international.

According to the Sun (h/t the Daily Mirror's James Whaling), the Gunners are "eyeing a move" for emerging star Barbosa, widely regarded as one of the biggest talents currently plying his trade in South America.

The 19-year-old, who scored on his Brazil debut against Panama and has already scored 50 goals for Santos, is quickly becoming one of the most wanted young stars on the planet. He's expected to play a big role in Brazil's Copa America Centenario plans, the perfect stage for him to present himself to a global audience.

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Like most young Brazilians these days, Barbosa is frequently compared to compatriot Neymar, but his style of play is more reminiscent of Barcelona star Luis Suarez. Like the Uruguayan, he's a powerful, athletic striker who makes the most of any chance he gets and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Barbosa has all of the athletic tools to be a star, but what's most impressive about his game is his remarkable vision and feel for the offside trap. Younger players like him tend to be easier to fool by defenders, but Barbosa has incredible timing on his runs and always seems to pick his spots perfectly.

Goal's Raisa Simplicio and Rupert Fryer thought his international debut showed just the kind of potential he has:

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Brazil, the critics say, have often lacked a cutting edge since World Cup 2014 as Dunga has failed to find a consistent presence in the no.9 shirt. Gabigol certainly gave them one on Sunday, persistently charging into the box from his position on the right, providing an option for the wide players and Brazil’s midfield creators.

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According to Brazilian football expert Paulo Freitas, his contract contains an exit clause of less than £14 million, an absolute bargain for a young player with star potential, but Barbosa is not expected to agree to a move anytime soon.

The Brazilian league has only just started its new campaign, and Santos have built their squad around their terrific attacker, who has been with the club since he was eight. He's still growing as a player, and another year in a familiar environment can only help.

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His value is likely to rise tremendously with a solid Copa America campaign, and when he does decide to move to Europe, there will be a long list of suitors, including some of the biggest clubs in the world.

Elsewhere, Ozil gave Arsenal fans a bit of a scare by opening the door to a Bundesliga return, amid speculation Bayern Munich are interested in his services. Per Metro's Sean Kearns, he was asked the question during a recent Q&A on Twitter, and his answer was not what fans wanted to read:

Ozil isn't expected to leave the Gunners anytime soon, but his reluctance to engage in contract talks has been a concern for some time now. Per Kearns, both Bayern and Barcelona are keeping an eye on the situation.

With that in mind, his answer didn't go down well with certain sections of the Gunners' supporters, per Footy Accumulators:

The 27-year-old still has plenty of time left on his contract and is playing some of the best football of his career with Arsenal. Bayern already invested heavily in their midfield this summer, signing Renato Sanches, and if Ozil did decide to leave north London, the Gunners would ask for a king's ransom.

He might very well return to Germany one day, but it's not likely that day will come anytime soon.

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