Mikel Arteta pushes Arsenal to sign the ‘new Lamine Yamal’

Carlo Garganese

• 6 Oct 2024 11:45 BST
• 4 min read

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is pushing for Arsenal to sign a Barcelona wonderkid who has been labelled as the ‘new Lamine Yamal’.

Arnau Pradas is the latest wonderkid to have emerged from La Masia, with the 18-year-old tipped for superstardom.

Although he is older than the 17-year-old Yamal, who inspired Spain to Euro 2024 glory this summer, Pradas has been described as something of a clone of his Barcelona teammate.

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Who is Arnau Pradas?

He can play on either wing, but like Yamal he excels on the right flank cutting inside onto his natural left foot.

Pradas plays for the Barcelona Juvenil A youth teams and he has impressed massively in the UEFA Youth League this season, scoring two goals in two games.

Mundo Deportivo reports that Arsenal manager Arteta is a huge fan of the youngster and is pushing for the Gunners to sign him.

Pradas’ contract expires at Barcelona at the end of the season, meaning Arsenal can sign him as a free agent next summer.

It is reported that Arsenal are already working on a deal in what would be a massive blow to Barcelona.

Arteta is keen on improving Arsenal’s attack, having missed out on a number of key targets over the past year.

The Spaniard had wanted to sign a natural number nine this summer, with Benjamin Sesko lined up as the number one target.

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Arsenal had been in negotiations for several weeks with Leipzig and Sesko, and believed that a deal was all but done - with only some formalities to complete before the 21-year-old would agree on personal terms.

Sesko had made it clear in negotiations that he wanted to join Arsenal over other interested clubs such as AC Milan. And meetings with Sesko’s entourage had all pointed to the striker joining Arsenal.

It then came as a huge shock when it was revealed at the start of June that Sesko would be staying at Leipzig, and he subsequently signed a new contract with the club.

Arsenal decided not to sign a striker and worked on a move for a top winger.

But the Gunners also pulled out of a move for Arteta’s top target there in Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams.

In the end, Arsenal brought in Raheem Sterling on loan at the end of the summer.

But Arteta is keen to make attacking reinforcements in 2025, and Pradas is one of the first names on his list.