Football Wonderkid Scout

According to English tabloid, The People, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to raid Barcelona for new teenage starlet Sergi Samper, who has been described as the next Cesc Fabregas. The move, which is most certain to cause a storm, is almsot idententical to the coup they staged in 2003 to lure their current club captain. Wenger is looking to repeat his stunning swoop for Fabregas by offering the midfield prospect a four-year deal and a fast -track into the Arsenal first team to tempt him away from the Nou Camp, just as did seven years ago to persuade Fabregas to move to London. With the offer of more money than Barcelona, Wenger will also try to convince Samper that his chances of first-team football will come more quickly at the Emirates. Samper who is tall and technically excellent, as you would come to expect from any La Masia graduate, has excellent vision and range of passing. The youngster starred for the Catalan outfit when Barcelona won the Premier Cup at Manchester United this season and is a regular for the Spain Under-16 side.

When Fabregas was taken by Arsenal, Barcelona vowed never to fall victim of losing their best academy talents, yet Samper could follow Fabregas to London in the next transfer window, leaving the clubs fighting over comepnsation. The 15 year-old playmaker has not signed professional terms at Barcelona and could leave for next to nothing despite being tipped to become a future star on the world stage. It is an ironic twist in the