Arsenal ‘call’ Man Utd target’s agent with ‘door open’ to £44m transfer away from Barcelona

Arsenal have reportedly joined Manchester United in the race to sign FC Barcelona youngster Ansu Fati, who is thought to be valued at around £44m.

The 20-year-old progressed through the ranks at Barcelona and he has played 89 times for the Spanish giants since the start of the 2019/20 campaign.

Fati is considered to be one of the brightest sparks who has recently broken through at Barcelona but he has not played as much as he would like this term. He has played 31 times across all competitions but this includes only seven starts in La Liga.

This has fuelled talk that he could leave Barcelona in the near future. Last week, it was reported that Man Utd are ‘most serious’ about signing the youngster.

It has since been reported that Fati is valued at around £44m but Barcelona will only let him go if he ‘makes the first move’.

A fresh report from Cadena COPE (via Sport Witness) claims that Arsenal have now ‘called Jorge Mendes’ to ask about the availability of Fati.

The player’s agent is yet to receive a ‘formal offer’ but it is noted that Fati’s role at Barcelona has ‘diminished’ this season.

It is said that the ‘door is open’ for Fati to leave Barcelona in the summer if his current situation does not change before the end of the season.

The report does not reveal whether Fati would be open to a move to Arsenal but it is stated that he is ‘crying out for more prominence’.

While Arsenal and Man Utd may end up battling to sign Fati, they are both also being linked with West Ham United’s Declan Rice.

Ben Jacobs is reporting that it is Arsenal who are the ‘favourites right now’ to sign the England international.

‘Arsenal’s midfield priority will be Declan Rice and West Ham are resigned to losing him. David Moyes, as you’d expect, has been quick to argue if Rice leaves it should be for a British-record transfer fee. But suitors are hoping for a fee of £70-80m. This is ultimately because Rice’s contract expires in summer 2024,’ Jacobs wrote for Caught Offside. 

‘But Chelsea’s big-spending could inflate the market and thus Rice’s price. You can understand why selling clubs, especially for top-tier central midfielders, will point to Enzo Fernandez’s £107m fee and ask for something similar.

‘I still think Rice will go for cheaper than that, but how much so will depend on whether West Ham get a bit of a bidding war. Chelsea also really want Rice. Manchester United and Newcastle United can’t be ruled…