​ Arsenal are reportedly in with a chance of landing highly rated Barcelona youngster Sergi Samper in the near future, in a move that would draw significant comparisons to their previous capture of a certain Cesc Fabregas.





In a report that is perhaps best taken with a small pinch of salt, the Metro cites infamous Spanish website Fichajes.net to claim that Samper is open to leaving Camp Nou and would accept a transfer if the Gunners were to make an offer in January.





It is believed that the 20-year-old midfielder, who made his senior Barcelona debut in a Champions League game against APOEL Nicosia last September, has an attractive release clause of just £8.5m.





Samper also made a handful of appearances for Luis Enrique's team in the Copa del Rey during last season's historic treble winning campaign, but he has still never been called upon for La Liga duty.





Even now, chances don't appear to be forthcoming, while other La Masia graduates like Munir El-Haddadi, Sandro Ramirez and more recently Gerard Gumbau, have been more involved in and around the first-team.

*pictured with another La Masia graduate, Marc Bartra





It is said that that the Barcelona-born Samper, who first joined the Blaugrana's famed academy when he was just six years of age, is aware that he may find a route to senior action too difficult to come by if he patiently stays with his home-town club.





It is a similar situation which brought significant and persistent speculation regarding a potential, but always unlikely, move to Liverpool last season.





Arsenal, with their track record of developing players from a young age, would appear to be a much more sensible choice if Samper really is ready to walk away from Barcelona.





Fabregas and Hector Bellerin were much younger when they made the switch to north London, but Samper could still take great inspiration from their respective stories. Hell, Fabregas even ended up back at Camp Nou a few years later anyway.

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