Arsenal favourites to sign Israeli wonderkid after Barcelona drop ball

Stuart Telford

• 12 Nov 2023 06:04 CST
• 3 min read

Arsenal are set to beat Real Madrid and Barcelona to the signing of Red Bull Salzburg wonderkid Oscar Gloukh, according to a report in Spain.

Gloukh has been on the radar of Premier League clubs since the U19 European Championships in Slovakia last year, where he hit three goals and two assists on Israel's run to the final, which they lost to England.

An attacking midfielder who was on Maccabi Tel Aviv's books at the time, Gloukh has impressed since his subsequent €7 million transfer to Salzburg in January with 12 goal-involvements that have included Champions League strikes against Benfica and Inter Milan.

READ: Who is Oscar Gloukh? The Israeli wonderkid wanted by Man Utd and Barcelona

Now valued at €12.7m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, Gloukh could fetch significantly more with his current contract at the Red Bull Arena running until June 2027. Arsenal appear to be front of the queue.

Arsenal 'closest' to Gloukh deal

"Despite previous interest from teams like Barcelona, and Gloukh's recent proclamations about Real Madrid, showing his desire to wear their shirt at some point, Arsenal are the club closest to securing a deal right now, " claims Fichajes' Miguel Angel Miguel Casas.

Gloukh is an attacking midfielder who thrives at No.10 but can also play either side in a three-man midfield, which would seem to put Kai Havertz's position at risk should he make the move to the Emirates.

READ: Havertz's struggles are Arteta's fault says Arsenal legend

Gloukh could easily have been playing for Barcelona instead, despite his soft spot for Madrid, as he revealed previously.

"Barcelona [only] remembered me when we already had everything closed with Salzburg," he told Forbes Israel. "I've been a Madrid fan since I can remember. My biggest dream is to play at the Bernabeu with the Real shirt. It would be the pinnacle for me."

Barca no longer have the finances to make a move, while Real have Arda Guler coming up behind Jude Bellingham in the position. Gloukh now appears to be Arsenal's to lose.