Spaniard’s Demand €25m For Out-Of-Favour Midfielder

As we approach the opening of the summer window clubs will be intensifying their efforts in the transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song is linked with Chelsea and Man Utd.

Chelsea and Manchester United have been told by Barcelona it will take an offer of €25m to land former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song this summer, according to reports today.

Song joined Barcelona from Arsenal in 2012 following a seven-year stay in north London but his time at the Nou Camp hasn’t quite gone according to plan as he’s failed to establish himself as a first team regular and made just 14 starts in all competitions last season.

With new Barca boss Luis Enrique set to overhaul the Catalans squad this summer, Song has been tipped for a move and it appears there is interest in bringing him back to the Premier League with both Chelsea and Manchester United linked with a move.

Jose Mourinho is on the look-out for another defensive midfield after selling David Luiz to PSG last week and reports have suggested the Blues have launched a £10m bid to try and land Song just days after wrapping up the signing of Cesc Fabregas.

New Man Utd boss Louis van Gaal is also drawing up a list of targets as he looks to rebuild a squad that finished seventh last season and the Cameroonian international has been touted as a potential new recruit.

However, it doesn’t look like Barcelona are willing to sell the 26-year-old on the cheap as the Express are citing reports from Spanish newspaper Marca that claim the La Liga giants are demanding €25m (£20m) for the former Gunners midfielder.

It remains to be seen whether either Chelsea or United are willing to stretch that far but the player is likely to be open to a move if one of the clubs can agree a fee, as he recently revealed that he’ll head back to England when he leaves the Nou Camp.

“If I leave Barcelona it will be to return to the Premier League.

“I will return to England one day, that’s for sure.” Song is quoted as saying by the Express

If Song does end up at either Chelsea or Man Utd then he’ll join an ever-growing list of former Arsenal players who have gone on to play for one of the north Londoners direct rivals. I’m sure the pain won’t be like seeing Cesc Fabregas in a Chelsea shirt, but it still wouldn’t be easy viewing for Gunners fans to see another one of their former stars lining up for a domestic foe.

Song started his career slowly at the Emirates but eventually broke into Arsene Wenger’s first team back in 2008 and quickly cemented himself as a vital member of the starting eleven before going on to make over 200 appearances for the club.

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Although he was sometimes criticised for his ponderous style and frustrating habit of giving away needless free-kicks, he was still a very good defensive midfielder and would be a useful signing for either Chelsea or United if they could pull it off.