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Arsenal are tracking Barcelona youngster Riqui Puig and could make a move for him in January.
The Gunners are in the market for a creative midfielder and were heavily linked at one stage with Red Bull Salzburg’s Dominik Szoboszlai. However, it has been confirmed that he is joining RB Leipzig in January instead, so now they have shifted their focus elsewhere.
Summer transfer target Houssem Aouar from Lyon, Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Brandt and Norwich City’s Emiliano Buendia are all on their shortlist, but Puig is emerging as a credible option.
21-year-old Puig made his Barcelona debut in 2018, but finds himself completely out of favour under Ronald Koeman, and they are willing to let him leave in January, either on loan or in a permanent deal. Leeds United are also reported to be monitoring his situation.
A Spanish under-21 international, Puig is a graduate of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy system.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.