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Arsenal are closing in on a deal to re-sign Barcelona midfielder Alex Song as Arsene Wenger looks to bring in a second player from the La Liga outfit having successfully completed the capture of Chilean Alexis Sanchez.
CaughtOffside understands that Wenger has been hot in pursuit of a number of potential targets as he seeks to bring in a defensively minded midfielder to provide his side with more of a steely edge in the centre of the park and is now hoping to lure Cameroon international Song back to the Emirates Stadium.
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Wenger has been linked with an interest in a number of central midfielders including the likes of Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin and Real Madrid star Sami Khedira but is hopeful of completing a £12m deal for Song.
Perhaps unsurprisingly Song has struggled to retain a foothold in the Barcelona’s first team set-up during his two seasons at the Catalan club, with Sergio Busquets regularly getting the nod to fill the defensive midfield berth and new boss Luis Enrique is keen to offload the tough tackler.
Enrique is conducting a major squad re-shuffle with both Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez being sold, whilst seeing veteran pair Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes also depart, with Barcelona then completing the very costly signing of Luis Suarez in a £75m deal from Liverpool.
Barcelona have also brought in keepers Marc-André ter Stegen and Claudio Bravo as well as Croatian playmaker Ivan Rakitic but Enrique is not yet finished spending this summer and is keen to offload those he deems surplus to requirements and is ready to accept Arsenal’s £12m offer, which meets the club’s valuation.
Other sides are known to be interested in Song, including Turkish giants Galatasaray, but Wenger will hope to persuade Song to return to the club he spent seven seasons with prior to his departure back in August 2012.
Arsenal have been engaged in secret talks with Barcelona in recent weeks and having developed a strong relationship with the club during negotiations to sign Sanchez the Gunners will hope to complete a deal for Song in the coming days.
Wenger is ready to listen to offers for Spanish veteran Mikel Arteta, who has a year to run on a contract that is not likely to be renewed, and the French boss hopes Song can then fill the role offering a strong midfield presence, helping to offer protection the club’s defence as well as their more creative midfield talents.
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