Arsenal and Manchester City poised to compete for £52m-rated player following revelation of hidden contract clause.

Arsenal are keeping tabs on Dani Olmo as Barcelona faces uncertainty over registering the attacking midfielder for the second half of the season.

The 26-year-old, who won Euro 2024 with Spain, joined Barcelona from RB Leipzig in a £52 million deal last summer. However, his future at the Nou Camp is already under threat. Due to Barcelona’s well-known financial struggles, Olmo is reportedly only registered with La Liga until December 31, raising concerns that he might not be eligible to play for Hansi Flick’s side beyond that date.

Spanish reports suggest that Olmo could leave Barcelona as a free agent, thanks to a clause in his contract that would activate if he remains unregistered. Arsenal, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich are all monitoring the situation closely. Olmo has been in solid form this season, scoring five goals in 10 league appearances.

Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco are working urgently to resolve the issue before January, but the uncertainty has left the club exposed to interest from Europe’s top teams during the winter transfer window.

Meanwhile, Arsenal fans are eager to see if Mikel Arteta will bring in reinforcements in January, with many calling for a new striker to bolster the club’s title ambitions. However, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp believes Gabriel Jesus still has an important role to play.

Discussing Jesus’ recent performances, Redknapp said: “This past week has shown Arsenal they still have a player who can deliver. It’s crucial he stays fit and scores goals. Even if they sign another striker in January, Jesus remains vital—whether starting or coming off the bench to make an

impact.”