Barcelona fury at Arsenal's raid on La Masia for academy stars

Star turn: Spain's Gerard Deulofeu could be on his way to Arsenal

Arsenal are risking a fresh row with Barcelona by stepping up their efforts to sign 17-year-old wonderkid Gerard Deulofeu.



Sportsmail has learned that Gunners chief scout Steve Rowley was in Switzerland earlier this month to run the rule over the talented 17-year-old during Spain’s Under 19 European Championship qualifying campaign.



Rowley’s spying mission on Deulofeu, who has been likened to Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho, was a significant step in Arsenal’s plan to sign the youngster before his 18th birthday next March.



Footballers in Spain are not permitted to sign professional contracts until their 18th birthday - a rule Arsenal first took advantage of in 2003 by signing Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona when he was 16.



Just last month Hector Bellerin and Jon Miguel Toral Harper, both 16, joined the Gunners from Barca’s La Masia academy. Ignasi Miquel and Fran Merida also swapped Catalonia for north London during Wenger’s tenure.



Centre of excellence: Barcelona's famed academy at La Masia has provided Spain with several key members of their World Cup winning squad

Arsenal’s persistent efforts to cherry-pick Barcelona’s promising talent has riled the European champions and president Sandro Rosell branded Arsenal’s move for Toral Harper as ‘legal but immoral’.

Poached: Cesc Fabregas was the first of the players nabbed by Arsenal from Barcelona's academy

The ill-feeling towards Arsenal, who are also interested in Barca’s 15-year-old Xavier Quintilla, will be intensified by their efforts to land Deulofeu.

Rowley also checked on Nottingham Forest central defender Jamaal Lascelles, 17, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 17, who is expected to join from Southampton this summer.

Barcelona’s pursuit of Fabregas has been backed by the midfielder Andres Iniesta. Doubts linger over how Fabregas would fit into a side already rich with midfield talent, but Iniesta said: ‘Xavi, Cesc and I are not incompatible. If he comes he will improve the quality of the team.’



Meanwhile, Everton’s willingness to sell Leighton Baines is key to Liverpool’s hopes of signing Gael Clichy. Arsenal are prepared to sell him this summer, to prevent him leaving on a free, but want another left back lined up first.



