Barcelona winger Cristian Tello could be the key to the club’s attempt to prise defender Alex Song away from Arsenal, reports Sport.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger would like the Cameroon international to remain at the Emirates Stadium and is reluctant to let him leave for less than €19m, a figure the Catalans are not prepared to pay.
However, winger Tello has been left out of boss Tito Vilanova’s provisional squad for the new season and has since been linked in the English Press with a move to the Londoners, something Barca could be open to as they look to reduce Arsenal’s asking price.
Song, 24, has emerged as the leading contender to fill the gap in the middle of Barca’s defence after seeing their efforts to sign Thiago Silva and Javi Martinez thwarted over the summer.
Vilanova, who needs cover at the back for Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, is desperate to get somebody in before the start of the La Liga season in two weeks’ time, particularly since La Blaugrana are also engaged in the Supercopa de Espana against Real Madrid.
Even so, if Arsenal are to follow up their interest then they could face competition from Atletico Madrid, although Los Rojiblancos are only understood to be willing to take the 20-year-old on a season-long loan.