Arsenal blow as £20m striker’s agent confirms Barcelona interest

Barcelona are interested in signing Arsenal target Lorenzo Insigne this summer, according to the Napoli striker’s agent.

The Italy international has been a long-term target for Arsene Wenger having been linked with a potential switch to the Gunners regularly over the past 24 months.

Insigne scored 12 goals and made 10 assists in 37 Serie A appearances for the Italian runners-up last season as the 25-year-old continues to improve for the Naples side.

The Arsenal target is thought to be valued at around £20m by the Serie A club, with the Gunners also reported to be interest in his Argentinian team-mate Gonzalo Higuain.

However, the north London side are facing competition from La Liga champions Barcelona after Insigne’s agent revealed that the Catalan side have made an approach for the striker.

“There was contact with Barcelona but other clubs are also interested,” Fabio Andreotti is quoted as saying by Gazzetta World. “I was the one to call the Blaugrana after [Barcelona technical secretary] Robert Fernandez said that they could be interested.

“In the meeting, however, they made it clear that they were focusing on other players.”

Insigne enjoyed his best season to date with Napoli after hitting double figures in Serie A for the first time in his career so far.