Arsenal & Chelsea Open Talks With Agent Of Spanish Forward Over Bargain Move

The transfer window may be closed but clubs are still working hard ahead of January and next summer so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal and Chelsea are linked with Abel Ruiz…

Arsenal and Chelsea have opened talks with the agent of Abel Ruiz to discuss a possible bargain £3m move from Barcelona, according to the Mirror.

Ruiz joined the Barca youth system from Valencia aged 12 and has progressed through the ranks to become a regular with the Barcelona B team this year.

The 17-year-old forward is regarded as one of Spain’s hottest young prospects and has been impressing for his country at the Under-17s World Cup.

The youngster has scored 21 goals in his 31 appearances for the Spain Under-17 side and is expected to go on to become a regular at senior level if he continues to develop as he has been in recent years.

However, Ruiz may find it difficult to secure regular first team football at the Nou Camp given the array of attacking talent blocking his path and it looks like English clubs are ready to pounce.

The Mirror claim that Arsenal and Chelsea have identified Ruiz as a potential signing and have already opened negotiations with his agent to discuss a potential move to the Premier League.

The newspaper says that Ruiz has a £3m buy-out clause in his contract – which expires in 2019 – so Barca are desperate to renegotiate and tie him down to a long-term deal that would no doubt include a much higher release fee.

However, until a new deal is agreed, the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea are going to continue to try and lure the teenager away from Spain as it would be a real bargain if they could sign the talented youngster for just £3m.

Barcelona have seen a long list of promising young players leave their youth system over the years with English clubs the main beneficiaries and it looks like Ruiz could be the latest name to swap Catalonia for London.

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The Mirror suggest that while the player would ideally like to remain at Barcelona, he has already expressed fears over his first team chances so it will be interesting to see if Arsenal or Chelsea can persuade him to come to England.