Londoners Raid Barcelona For Three Starlets

Despite the transfer window being closed there is still plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today, Barcelona are set to lose three starlets.

Barcelona are set to lose three more of their starlets to Premier League clubs with Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham the beneficiaries, according to Goal.com.

First up and the report claims that Chelsea have already agreed a deal to sign Ecuadorian attacking midfielder Josimar Quintero at the end of the season. The 16-year-old has been one of the most promising youngsters in the Barca academy this season but Goal.com suggest he’s rejected the Catalans latest contract offer and informed the club he’ll be moving to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Quintero will be joined by Julio Pleguezuelo in London next year with Goal.com claiming the highly-rated defender is set to join Arsenal. The 17-year-old has been likened to Cales Puyol but it seems he’s also been lured by the money on offer in England with the report suggesting he’s told Barca officials he’s off to the Emirates at the end of the season.

Tottenham are the third club who could raid Spain this summer with Goal.com claiming the north Londoners are hot on the trail of 16-year-old striker Sergi Canos. The pacey forward is understood to be keen on a move to the Premier League and like his team-mates, he has made it clear he will leave Barca if a more appealing offer is put on the table this summer.

Poaching youngsters from Barcelona’s famed La Masia Academy has become common-place from Premier League clubs in recent years with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United previously taking advantage of FIFA rules which dictate that players under the age of 16 cannot sign professional contracts.

This provides clubs with the opportunity to ‘steal’ the top talent by offering them inflated deals with only a minimal compensation fee being paid to the developing club. The maximum fee a club will pay for a youngster who’s spent four years at a Category 1 academy such as Barcelona’s is only €360,000 – which is nothing if you consider the potential future transfer fee’s these player are likely to be worth.

Read more Arsenal transfer news| Chelsea transfer news | Spurs transfer news

The two most famous cases in recent years is that of Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique who were lured to England by Arsenal and Man Utd only to be sold back to Barcelona years later for sizable transfer fees, and it seems the Spaniards could be set to lose 3 more of their most promising young talents this summer.

What do you think about Premier League clubs ‘poaching’ Barcelona’s young talent? Get involved in the comments section below.