According to recent reports, Arsenal has made a substantial offer to a young player whom Barcelona has high hopes for, believing he could surpass the abilities of Sergio Busquets.

Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, is actively seeking to bolster the team ahead of the upcoming Premier League season, with a midfielder being a key target for recruitment. Under Arteta’s leadership, Arsenal has made significant strides in recent years, although narrowly missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City in the previous season. While acquiring a prolific striker may be a priority, strengthening the midfield would undoubtedly help narrow the gap between Arsenal and City even further.

One player linked to Arsenal is Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad, known for his role in central midfield. However, it seems that Arteta had his sights set on the young talent Marc Bernal from Barcelona, going as far as extending a sizeable offer to the 17-year-old. According to reports from e-Noticies, Arteta was determined to secure Bernal’s signature. However, it appears that the promising young player has decided to stay at Barcelona. Bernal, a product of Barcelona’s renowned La Masia academy, is seen as the successor to Sergio Busquets’ position by Barca’s new manager, Hansi Flick.

Despite efforts by Arsenal, Flick has managed to convince Bernal to turn down their offer and remain with Barcelona, showing great faith in the 17-year-old’s potential to surpass the iconic Sergio Busquets’ legacy. It is anticipated that Bernal will have a significant role in Flick’s first-team squad as Barcelona aims to reclaim the league title from Real Madrid in the upcoming season.