Arsenal and Barcelona are reportedly in a transfer tussle to sign Youssef En-Nesyri, with the Gunners set to clinch the 24-year-old’s signature.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Youssef En-Nesyri is a highly sought-after player in the transfer market heading into the summer transfer window. Arsenal and Barcelona are courting the 24-year-old striker, with the Gunners reportedly leading the race to sign him.
Youssef En-Nesyri has established himself as one of the best strikers in La Liga since joining Sevilla from CD Leganes in January 2020. In the last two years, the Moroccan international has improved by leaps and bounds, becoming a key figure for club and country in the process.
To date, the 24-year-old has made 88 appearances for Sevilla, chipping in with 33 goals and two assists in the process. En-Nesyri’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with some of the biggest clubs in Europe setting their sights on him. And two of the Sevilla striker’s prospective suitors are Arsenal and Barcelona.
The interest from Barcelona makes a world of sense, as Sergio Aguero’s premature retirement has left Xavi Hernandez short of quality options in the final third. With neither Martin Braithwaite nor Luuk de Jong being reliable strikers, Barcelona must dip their toes in the transfer market for a striker at the earliest opportunity despite the arrival of Ferran Torres.
To that end, En-Nesyri has emerged as a viable target for Barcelona, with Joan Laporta ready to sanction a €30 million bid to sign the 24-year-old from La Liga rivals Sevilla. However, the Catalan giants have faced stiff competition from Arsenal in the race to sign the Moroccan striker.
Recent reports have even claimed that the Gunners are considering a January move for En-Nesyri. However, it is likely that the Sevilla forward will arrive at the Emirates in the summer, if at all. Arsenal’s eagerness to sign En-Nesyri stems from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s waning stature coupled with Alexandre Lacazette’s tricky contractual situation.
Signing a striker is an urgent need for Arsenal, with an offer likely to be tabled next summer. And the north Londoners are ahead of Barcelona in the race to sign the 24-year-old from La Liga giants Sevilla.
En-Nesyri is likely to be Aubameyang’s replacement at Arsenal, with the Gabonese striker coincidentally a target for Barcelona. It remains to be seen which striker Barcelona will sign, with En-Nesyri inching closer to joining Arsenal instead.
