Arsenal: 4 Barcelona players to target amid financial mess

2. Ilaix Moriba – Central Midfielder

From Barcelona’s point of view, they want to be offloading their top earners. Ilaix Moriba only made his La Liga debut last season and is one the club’s lowest earners (he’s only 18), but heavens does this man have outstanding potential.

Locked in a contract dispute with the Spanish side at present, with just one year left to run on his deal the interest around his signature is understandably high.

Moriba is the epitome of a box-to-box midfielder. The prime example of the role.

Unlike most in his position, Moriba boasts exceptional pace and strength in his powerful strides. Once he gets going with or without the ball it’s a frightening prospect to consider with his carrying ability as elegant as you’d expect from a La Masia graduate – and some more.

While the sample size is only 14 matches and 542 minutes worth, he has a npxG+xA of 0.32 (95th percentile) and 96+ percentile passing accuracy across all ranges. Similarly he’s 99th percentile for pressing in the middle and final third with almost every other statistic one could ask for in a box-to-box midfielder equally outstanding.

All of those numbers need tempering with the fact he comes on late in matches with his side in the lead, so of course the numbers, particularly pressures, will be miscued. But what is certain is that he’s got that Paul Pogba brawn and brains style to him with an ingenious football brain for someone so young.

Take advantage of the contract situation and see what Barcelona will take.