Arsenal are in danger of losing their perfect free agent signing to Barcelona ahead of the start of next season.
According to Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf, the Catalan side have held talks with agent Mino Raiola over the his clients Erling Haaland and Noussair Mazraoui.
Mazraoui has previously been linked to Arsenal, and he would prove to be a shrewd signing the summer due to the need for a better backup option at right-back.
However, with Barcelona also reportedly interested in the defender, it means that Edu must step his pursuit or risk losing out on an idea bargain transfer.
Mazraoui is a product of the famous Ajax academy and has played for the Dutch since he was eight years old, but his time with the side seems to be coming to an end, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
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When he was asked by Dutch media on his plans for next season, Mazraoui said, via The Sun: "That's a good question. I think the chances of me remaining at Ajax are very small, maybe 5%.
"I am open for something new, I have played here for 16 years and I think it's a good moment to leave."
The 23-year-old has plenty of Champions League experience and was instrumental in getting a young Ajax squad to the semi-finals of the competition in the 2018/2019 season.
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He’d certainly fit Arsenal’s mould in terms of signing young players and he is a quality right-back that Arsenal could sign for a bargain price, following the path of Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Tomiyasu is the only right-back at the club who can oversee the team compete at the top of the league when he is featured in the starting XI, so competition needs to be provided for him.
Chambers was sold in the January transfer window, which means Cedric is the only backup to Tomiyasu, but has been prone to errors this season, despite the excellent form he has shown in recent games.
Mazraoui would certainly be an ideal backup signing, and he offers a lot more going forward than Tomiyasu, which means Arteta can use him in matches where the pressure on the full-backs to defend is not too intense.
With the Moroccan international also being available on a free transfer, it would allow Edu to spend heavily on other positions which are needed, but the Brazilian must react fast as it seems Barcelona also have plans to sign the Ajax full-back.
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