Arsenal have been linked with a transfer move for Villarreal winger Alex Baena.
According to a recent report from Sport, the Gunners are one of the four Premier League clubs alongside Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City, that are interested in signing the 21-year-old.
In 54 appearances for his current club across their senior and youth sides, the winger has scored eight goals and delivered 13 assists along the way, with all eight goals coming in the 31 senior games he’s played in.
Last season saw the attacker complete a loan spell with Girona, where he ended up netting five times and supplying seven assists in 45 appearances.
In the 38 league games he appeared in last term, Baena ended the campaign with the second-highest number of shots at goal (76) and shots on target (31) at the club.
He also delivered the second-highest number of crosses (106) for Girona as they made their way back into La Liga, further highlighting how dangerous he can be from the wide positions.
While the winger may not have started a league game for Villarreal this season, he has still managed to score three goals from six substitute appearances, making him the club’s top goalscorer as things stand.
Hailed for his “spectacular” start to the season by journalist Pablo Benitez, Baena could be Mikel Arteta’s next version of Gabriel Martinelli as another young winger making a name for himself in his home country, as the Brazilian did before joining Arsenal in 2019.
Taking into account how Martinelli is the only predominant left-winger in Arteta’s ranks, securing a move for Baena could be the ideal way to add some strength and depth to that area of the squad.
Moving forward, we feel that the north London club should do all they can to beat their top-flight rivals to bring the young Spaniard to England and integrate him with the rest of Arteta’s players.
