Arsenal monitoring Fer Nino progress

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been scouring his homeland for attacking talent, and his scouting network have sent a glowing report back to North London on the progress of 21-year-old Villarreal striker Fer Nino. The player, who currently is on loan at Real Mallorca, has caught the eye this season despite his club sitting in 18th place in La Liga.

The Gunners are to have around £150 million to spend on new players in the summer, and their number 1 priority is to upgrade their squad in the attacking department. With question marks over the future of French forward Alexandre Lacazette, as well as the likely exit of England under-21 striker Eddie Nketiah, Arsenal are left with just one striker in the form of Folarin Balogun, currently on loan at Middlesbrough.

Arteta has considered deploying Gabriel Martinelli or Emile Smith-Rowe as a false 9, but it is understood the Gunners' manager wants a new striker to fill the gap left by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who departed for Barcelona on a free transfer.

Fer Nino is unfortunately well known for a horror challenge on Leicester City's defender Wesley Fofana.

Fer Nino stands at 6 foot 3 and is comfortable playing as a lone striker or as an attacking midfielder. Emerging from the youth team of Villarreal, the Yellow Submarines expect to recoup at least 25 million euros for the Spain under-21 player. Nino has scored 2 goals in 4 games for the Spanish youth side. 

Villarreal received 3 million euros for the loan deal to Real Mallorca, and his spell at the Balearic club will come to an end on July 1st.