Exclusive: Arsenal to Trigger £8.5m Release Clause as Wenger Makes Move to Sign Barcelona Attacker Cristian Tello

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Gunners boss hopes to lure Nou Camp youngster to the Emirates Stadium.

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Arsenal are readying a bid to sign Barcelona youngster Cristian Tello as Arsene Wenger continues to pursue a myriad of summer transfer targets.

CaughtOffside understands that Wenger is keen to register his interest in the 21 year old attacker in the knowledge that Tello’s Nou Camp side are seeking to tie down the player to a new contract that increases his release clause.

Barcelona have learned the error of their ways having failed to alter Thiago Alcantara’s contract, leaving the Spanish international to be available for as little as £17m due to a lack of playing time which resulted in a far higher clause not being enforced.

Similarly Tello’s contract stipulates an incremental increase in his release clause based on the number of fixtures he participates in but having failed to do so is now available for just €10m (£8.5m) and as such Wenger is keen to make an offer before a new deal makes such a move far more expensive.

Wenger is willing to give the Spanish Under 21 international assurances of a prominent role in the Arsenal first team next term, as well as a hefty pay rise, one which the Gunners boss feels he can afford to offer due to the relatively low cost it would take to sign the Barcelona starlet.

The adaptable forward, who can play up front in an central striking role or out wide on either wing, was handed just 12 La Liga starts last term and only two starts in the Champions League but did manage to net eight goals in all competitions.

The arrival of Neymar is sure to leave Tello playing an even more limited role in Tito Vilanova’s first team set-up with the locally born Barcelona player already having to challenge the likes of David Villa, Alexis Sanchez, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro for a spot supporting Lionel Messi in the Catalan giant’s attack.

Arsene Wenger is looking to offload a number of his current attacking options, with the likes of Marouane Chamakh, Nicklas Bendtner, Gervinho and Park Chu-Young likely to leave, and the Arsenal boss hopes to persuade Tello that his long term career prospects would be more successfully fulfilled at the Emirates Stadium rather than at a Barcelona side where he is little more than a bit-part player.


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