BREAKING: “HE IS THE PERFECT SALIBA PARTNER” Arsenal Enter Negotiations To Highjack Versatile Defender Valued At £40M

HITC understands that Arsenal have asked about the availability of one Barcelona player this summer after his reported move elsewhere has stalled.

Arsenal have yet to really get busy in the summer transfer market as they missed out on their number one striker target Benjamin Sesko, after the Slovenian decided to put pen to paper on a new contract at RB Leipzig.

The Gunners are understood to be interested in Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee, who has a release clause in his contract at the Italian side which is worth around £34 million.

However, HITC has now been told that the Gunners have asked Barcelona about Mikayil Faye, after his move to Portuguese giants FC Porto stalled.

Faye is considered one of Barca’s brightest defensive prospects but the 19-year-old is keen for first-team football and is one reason why they were allowing him to join FC Porto.

Last season for Barcelona Athletic, Barcelona’s B side, Faye featured 35 times for the Spanish side and the Senegalese defender, who predominantly plays as a left-sided centre-back certainly looks to have a bright future in the game.

A report from Diario AS, who spoke to Dani Olmo’s brother, Carlos, who played with the defender in Croatia, has revealed that the 19-year-old is a ‘super calm’ player.

“He’s a super calm, kind kid,” Olmo said. “For us it was life insurance those months he played with us at the back. He has very controlled timing. There have been many times that I have thought: ‘he’s not coming’ and the guy comes. I mean, he’s fast but he controls the timing very well.

“There were no deficiencies in him and I’m not saying this because he was on my team. I said: ‘damn, he’s badly placed now, he’s just badly placed, he’s not going to make it’ and he arrived.”

Sources have told HITC that Porto have agreed terms with Faye, but are still trying to hammer out a deal with Barca insisting on €15million (£12 million) plus a buy-back clause of a similar value.

This has meant Faye’s impending move to Porto has now stalled and sources confirm that Arsenal have now asked about the defender.

Arsenal would like a defensive addition this summer and are understood to be interested in Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, alongside a whole host of Premier League clubs.

Faye’s versatility appeals to Arteta and Arsenal

It is our understanding that Arsenal have been hot on the trail of the 19-year-old Senegalese defender for a long time.

Sources have told HITC that Faye’s versatility is said to be appeal to those in North London with Faye able to play centrally or on the left.

One potential stumbling block in the deal is Barcelona’s demands for the defender. A move to FC Porto stalled due to the buyback clause that the Catalan giants insisted on including in the deal.

These clauses are understood to be a non-starter for Arsenal and this is also a non-negotiable for those at the Nou Camp.

This would suggest that the chances of the Gunners landing the Senegalese defender are minimal as Barcelona do not want to cut ties with the defender completely.