Arsenal are keeping close tabs on Barcelonaforward Munir El-Haddadi, who earned rave reviews for his impressive display against Elche on Sunday night. The 18-year-old, making his senior debut for the Catalan giants, scored an excellent goal and is now being considered as a potential short-term replacement for the injured Olivier Giroud by Arsene Wenger.
This is according to the Express, who claim that Wenger has been watching the Spain Under-19 international for some time now. European giants Bayern Munich and French champions Paris Saint-Germain are also believed to be keen.
Who is Munir?
Few outside of Barcelona will have been familiar with Munir prior to this weekend. A product of Barca’s famed La Masia academy, the Spaniard – who is eligible to play for Morocco – attracted interest from both Real Madrid and Manchester City several years ago.
The forward, thanks to his exploits for the Barcelona B team, was linked with Arsenal at the start of 2014. Wenger had hoped to lure the teenager to north London – just as he did with Cesc Fabregas 11 years earlier – but a move failed to materialise.
With Neymar and Pedro unfit and Luis Suarez banned until October, Barcelona boss Luis Enrique handed Munir – who impressed in pre-season – his senior debut at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
The youngster did not disappoint, hitting the bar early in the match before opening his account with a wonderful finish in the second half, despite the fact Barcelona had been reduced to 10 men.