Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League rivals FC Porto are reportedly set to submit an opening offer to sign an FC Barcelona wonderkid linked with the Gunners.
The Portuguese giants caused the north London side all kinds of problem this season in their Round of 16 encounter, with Arsenal eventually coming out on top thanks to heroics from David Raya between the sticks in a penalty shootout.
Now, the two sides are set to go head-to-head again in the transfer market, with Arsenal and Porto both eyeing up one of Barcelona’s most exciting prospects, who after the appointment of Hansi Flick could now leave for good this summer.
Yet Porto have now seemingly made the first move.
Porto to make first approach for Arsenal target Mika Faye
According to Fabrizio Romano, Porto will soon present a ‘formal bid’ to Barcelona to sign teenage defender Mika Faye worth €15m (£12m) this week, with a meeting already booked between the two European sides.
Romano posted on Twitter: “FC Porto will present formal bid to Barça for Mikayil Faye around €15m this week, meeting already scheduled. Understand Barcelona want a buy back clause to be included in the deal as they don’t want to lose control on the player. Talks will continue this week.”
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With Arsenal linked with a move for Faye already this summer, losing the Senegal international to Porto of all clubs would come as a hammer blow for the Gunners given what happened between the two sides in this year’s Champions League.
Indeed, a young central defender is on Arsenal’s wishlist for the summer, and with Faye now closing in on a move to Portugal, the north London side could now have to change tact in their bid to fill this position in the market.
Arsenal could regret not pushing hard enough to sign Faye
Faye is one of Barcelona’s most exciting prospects for good reason, with the teenage defender already a full international for Senegal and attracting interest from some major European clubs.
And for Arsenal, there could be regret in the north London side if Faye ends up joining Porto, with the stars seemingly aligned that the centre-back will develop into a monster in Portugal.
The north London side are no strangers to missing out on top talents, and in Faye, there could be another case of ‘what if’ amongst Arsenal fans if the Gunners do indeed miss out on the Barcelona star.