New Arsenal manager Unai Emery is willing to sell in order to fund a summer move for Barcelona outcast Andre Gomes, reports The Independent.
Emery wants to overhaul Arsenal’s midfield options before the start of next season and isn’t content with just the arrival of Sampdoria starlet Lucas Torreira.
Jack Wilshere has already left the club and Emery is determined to hand Gomes a route out of his Barcelona hell, two years after the Portugal international joined from Valencia.
Gomes has endured a nightmare spell at Barcelona and has been heavily linked with a move away in each of the last two summers, with the Premier League his most likely destination.
Tottenham were interested in the 24-year-old last summer but now Arsenal are in the running for his signature, although Emery must first sell before he can afford a move for the £30m-rated midfielder.
As well as the free transfer of Stephan Lichtsteiner, Arsenal have also signed Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno in a deal worth more than £20m and Borussia Dortmund centre-back Sokratis for £16m.
However, Emery is determined to sign Gomes and is willing to sell players that do not feature in his plans in order to land the midfielder.
Gomes has only started 23 league games during his two years at Barcelona, forced to make a further 23 appearances as a substitute. He scored three goals and provided one assist in that period.
