Arsenal are reportedly set to reignite their interest in the Barcelona and Spain international forward David Villa, who will be allowed to leave this summer.
Arsenal have again been linked with a transfer swoop for FC Barcelona forward David Villa after Catalan club’s vice president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed the 31 year-old could move on.
“The coaches hope he is here next season but we will not retain any player that is uncomfortable,” said Bartomeu, quoted by the Metro.
“In that case, we will talk to him to seek a solution.”
Villa’s desire to leave Camp Nou stems from losing his place in the Barca side – unusual given how useful his runs behind Real Madrid’s defence could have been in last night’s El Clasico.
At Arsenal his pedigree and strike rate would make him amongst the first names on the team sheet.
The Gunners held very real interest in Villa in the January transfer window, with manager Arsene Wenger asked about the Spain forward in many of his press conferences.
As is always the way with Wenger though, little was given away, besides enough to give the headline writers what they needed.
The Gunners were thwarted in their bids to bring Villa to north London though, with FC Barcelona unwilling to let Spain’s record goalscorer depart in the middle of the season without having secured a replacement.
When the transfer window closed, it was thought that Arsenal had moved on from their interest in David Villa to focus on younger targets, with the likes of Edinson Cavani and Stevan Jovetic named as alternatives.
However, if Villa becomes available for a reasonable fee, he could be a real coup for Arsene Wenger and his team.
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