Arsenal Transfer News: Wenger Snaps Up German Youngster | Serb Arrives On Trial

The summer transfer window is now open for business and it’s expected to be a busy few weeks as managers strengthen their squads ahead of next season, so we’ll bring you all the latest Arsenal news and gossip. Today, Gooner Mac brings us news on Georgios Spanoudakis and Mladen Micanovic.

Arsenal sign Barca starlet

First up and the Daily Mail are reporting that Arsenal have snapped up yet another young talent from Barcelona after agreeing a deal with highly-rated midfielder Georgios Spanoudakis.

The 15-year-old moved to Spain in 2009 from Eintracht Frankfurt before progressing through Barca’s much-famed La Masia academy and is considered as one of their most promising young midfielders.

However, it appears Arsene Wenger has once again taken advantage of the laws in Spain which state players under 18 can not sign contracts as the Mail claim that the boss has persuaded Spanoudakis to reject the advances of several European clubs to make the move to the Emirates.

The teenager is understood to be a ball-playing midfielder and is expected to go straight into the Arsenal Under-18 side, with the club paying minimal compensation to Barcelona for developing him thus far.

Spanoudakis – as the name suggests – comes from Greek heritage and is still eligible to play for his homeland despite already representing Germany at Under-16 level, and he joins an ever-growing list of young players to swap the Nou Camp for north London with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Fran Merida, Jon Toral, Hector Bellerin and Julio Pleguezuelo all making the switch in recent years.

Micanovic arrives on trial

Next up and the Metro are reporting that Arsenal have taken young Serbian midfielder Mladen Micanovic on trial with the view of making the move permanent this summer.

The 17-year-old currently plays for FK Javor Ivanjica and is predominantly a central midfielder, but is also capable of playing at right-back or even centre-back if needed, so his versatility is sure to have alerted Arsene Wenger.

The youngster is highly-rated in his home country and the newspaper claims that Arsenal are considering a permanent deal worth around £100,000, but Wenger wants to take a closer look at the player in action first.

Ivanjica is therefore due to have a trial over the coming weeks where he will be put through his paces with the first team squad. If the Serbian under-19 star impresses, he will then make the move on a permanent basis.

Somewhat surprisingly, it’s understood Ivanjica will go straight into the first team squad as Wenger sees him as someone who can challenge for a place in the senior side immediately. I find that odd as if he’s that good, surely there wouldn’t be any need to have a trial?

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news

Anyway, it looks like the club are working hard to bring in some young talent this summer but fans will be hoping for more established names like Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy over the coming weeks to ensure we have a squad capable of competing for major honours next season.