Arsenal face competition from club legend in race for Italy midfielder Nicolo Barella

Arsenal will have to battle it out with AS Monaco for the signature of Cagliari’s Nicolo Barella, according to Calciomercato.

After impressing for the Serie A side, the midfielder was awarded his first two caps for Italy’s senior side in October.

Gunners boss Unai Emery is keen to add some young blood to his squad and, at 21, the playmaker certainly fits the bill.

The north London outfit now reportedly though face competition from a familiar figure in record goalscorer Thierry Henry, who wants to bring the player to AS Monaco.

Thierry Henry wants to add to his struggling AS Monaco squad in January.

However, the Italian side are under no pressure whatsoever to sell their homegrown star and will be desperate to keep hold of him until at least the summer

Barella, who spent the 2015/16 campaign on loan at Como, has scored once in 11 appearances for Cagliari this term.

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