Arsenal hit another transfer setback as Man City shows interest in a Barcelona star
Arsenal are busy this summer in the transfer market as they aim to keep their Premier League title and do even better in the Champions League. But their plan to sign a Barcelona star might hit a snag because Manchester City also want him.
The Gunners have been linked to some big names, including Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes. However, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has made it clear they won’t easily let go of their important players.
If that’s true, fans will hope that Mikel Arteta avoids a long, drawn-out transfer battle like Liverpool had last season with Newcastle over Alexander Isak. This might mean giving up on Guimaraes and looking for another midfielder instead. One possible alternative is Marc Bernal, a talented Barcelona academy player.
Arsenal are interested in Bernal, but Manchester City might have the upper hand. They could be ready to say goodbye to their star midfielder Rodri, who won the 2024 Ballon d’Or and may be moving to Real Madrid this summer. Plus, other midfielders like Mateo Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez might also leave City, so they’ll need new players in that area. Bernal is one of the young talents City are thinking about signing.
Even though both Arsenal and City want Bernal, a deal seems very unlikely since his contract runs until 2029, and his release clause is a huge €500 million.
Meanwhile, City are also linked to other young midfielders with great skills and physical abilities. These include Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, who impressed for Morocco in the World Cup, and Bayern Munich’s Aleksandar Pavlovic, who might also be headed to the Etihad.