Arsenal Boss Keen On Barcelona Pair as Wenger Looks to Strengthen Gunners Squad

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will attempt to land either of two Barcelona targets that he has earmarked as summer transfer acquisitions.

 The Gunners boss will look to make offers for Dutch international Ibrahim Afellay and Carlos Tello as he seeks to strengthen his Emirates Stadium squad.

 Barcelona may well be considering options for a number of their squad players as new boss Tito Vilanova looks to secure funds to mount significant offers for targets he himself has taken a fancy to, most prominent of which is Spanish international Javi Martinez.

 The Nou Camp side have already purchased Jordi Alba from Valencia and more additions may be forthcoming as the Catalan side look to bolster their squad having seen both their La Liga and Champions League titles wrestled from their grasp last term.

 Wenger has long been an admirer of 26 year old adaptable performer Ibrahim Afellay, having tried to sign the Utrecht born attacker prior to his move from PSV Eindhoven to Barcelona 18 months ago.

 Afellay would have expected to face a fight to garner regular first team football but thus far he has been in a losing battle, managing just 1 start last term and just a handful the term before.

 The Dutchman has apparently been informed by Vilanova that his chances of being part of his plans are no more increased then during Pep Guardiola’s reign.

 Some sources state that Barcelona could accept offers of as little as £6m for a player who cost the La Liga side just £2.2m in January 2011.

Wenger is also tracking youngster Christian Tello who impressed many with his displays in the Barcelona first team last season.

 The 20 year old made an instant impact, netting seven goals in 22 appearances in all competitions, appearing mainly in wide roles coming from the bench.

 Arsene Wenger has scouted the local born attacker and is ready to make an offer for the Spanish Under 21 international and will hope that the promise of a better chance of securing regular first team football might tempt Tello.

 Indeed the wide-man’s first team chances may be hindered by the arrival of Alba and given that Christian Tello is also vying for a first team spot with the likes of Pedro, Alexis Sanchez, Lionel Messi, David Villa, Isaac Cuenca and Cesc Fabregas a move to the North London club could be of interest to the Barcelona starlet.

 Arsenal have already begun a summer clear-out with Manuel Almunia being released and Carlos Vela securing a move to Real Sociedad.

 Wenger is also said to be keen on offloading Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh, Sebastien Squillaci and Park Chu-Young whilst the futures of first team regulars Andrei Arshavin and Theo Walcott hang in the balance.

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