Arsenal Plan €19m January Bid For High Rated Manchester United Target

Arsenal could tread through a rosy path on their way to securing the signing of Celta Vigo in-form striker Nolito, with the Spanish forward keen on moving to the Emirates, as per the Mirror, who also got their inspiration from reports in Spain.

The broadsheet claims Nolito has a buyout clause in his contract which is due to expire in 2017, and that the former Benfica striker is interested in joining the Gunners, who the Mirror say are preparing a €19m [£14m] offer for the player.

Once of Benfica and Barcelona, Nolito is currently with the Spain senior squad for the 2016 European Championship qualifiers against Luxembourg and Ukraine, and would likely relish the chance of linking up with fellow countrymen Santi Cazorla, Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal at Arsenal.

Celta Vigo are currently third in the league this term, having been boosted by Nolito’s five goals in seven La Liga outings, and the player is also attracting interest from European champions Barcelona. His league goal tally is equal to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored all five in one La Liga game this term. Only perennial Arsenal transfer target Karim Benzema has more goals than the aforementioned duo.

It is understood Nolito, 28, has impressed Arsenal’s scouts in recent weeks and the North London club will continue keeping tabs on the Spanish forward before making a move for him in the New Year.

The Sanluca de Barrameda-born forward has been in brilliant form for Celta Vigo since the start of last season, with 13 goals in 28 appearances for the La Liga outfit.

Nolito started his footballing career with the likes of Sanluqueno and Valencia. He then went to play for the likes of Ecija, Barcelona, Benfica, Granada before joining Celta Vigo in 2013.

Should Arsenal succeed in landing Nolito in January, they might go all the way to secure the league title which has eluded them for over a decade.