Arsenal are reportedly lining up an ambitious swoop to sign Barcelona star Dani Olmo, as per a recent report.
After joining the Catalan giants from RB Leipzig last summer, the Spain international has enjoyed a stellar first half of this season, scoring six goals and registering a solitary assist in all competitions.
But, as per a recent Spanish report (via the Mirror) Barcelona only managed to register the Spain international until December 31 due to financial issues and if they can’t manage to register him beyond that period then there is a clause in his contract – which will allow him to leave the club as a free agent.
The Gunners have been keeping a close eye on this situation and are ready to pounce if he eventually leaves the Blaugrana for free in mid-season.
However, the North London club aren’t the only club interested in him as Bayern Munich and Manchester City are also keen on hiring him by taking advantage of this situation.
So, Barcelona president Joan Laporta and executive Deco are scrambling to find a solution to register him as soon as possible to avoid losing him for free.
Olmo to Arsenal
The 26-year-old – valued at around £50m by Transfermarkt – is an attacking midfielder by traits but is also comfortable in the box-to-box and left-wing role. He is technically sound, can dribble past opposition defenders in tight areas, has the ability to play threading passes between the lines and is efficient in finishing off his chances.
But, Olmo isn’t a physically dominant player and has struggled with injury problems in recent times. So, he might struggle to cope with the intensity of the Premier League if he were to move to the Emirates Stadium next year.
However, Martin Odegaard is the only specialist attacking midfielder Arsenal currently have. Ethan Nwaneri can provide cover in this position if needed but he is still very young and needs time to develop his career.
Therefore, signing a new number ten could be the right decision and Olmo may be a good signing if he can be hired without paying any transfer fee. Otherwise, Arsenal would be better off exploring other options to strengthen the midfield.