Arsenal investigating £17m Barcelona teenager

BARCELONA, SPAIN: Mikayil Faye of FC Barcelona looks on before the EA Sports LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on March 30, 2024. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Simon Jones reports for the Daily Mail that Arsenal have asked about Barcelona defender Mikayil Faye ahead of the summer transfer window.

Barcelona highly value Faye and believe he has a future at the club, but they also need to raise funds, and they estimate his sale could fetch £17m or more.

The 19-year-old can play at left-back or center-back, which would seemingly make him a good fit for an Arsenal team that often tasks a defender with playing a mix of both roles.

BARCELONA, SPAIN: Mikayil Faye of FC Barcelona looks on before the EA Sports LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on March 30, 2024. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

But the Gunners are monitoring him closely and they would watch him again in the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Senegal.

Faye has already made her senior debut for her country, scoring in a 3-0 win over Gabon in March. Senegal will then face DR Congo on Thursday June 6 and Mauritania on Sunday June 9.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, gives team instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Luton Town at the Emirates Stadium on April 3, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

At club level, the defender is yet to make his first appearance for Barcelona's first team.

Instead, he played 33 times for their B team in 2023/24, scoring four goals and helping them finish in third place in Spain's third tier.