Barcelona Struggling To Hold Onto Academy Star Amid Arsenal and Liverpool Interest

Tata Martino is hoping to convince one of the most exciting players in the Barcelona academy Toni Sanabria to commit his long term future to the club amid interest from numerous Premier League sides.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City have all been linked with the striker in recent months and Martino is concerned that yet another academy player will decide to make the move to England.

Catalan newspaper Sport reports that the Barcelona manager held talks with Sanabria as he is desperate to convince the striker to remain at the Camp Nou and reject the advances of major clubs who will undoubtedly offer high wages.

The 17-year-old has a release clause of just €3m in his current contract and there is a concern that he will be poached away from the club in January and offered a professional contract - something that Spanish clubs cannot do until a player turns 18.

Liverpool profited from this law earlier this year when they convinced Sergi Canos to leave Barcelona for Merseyside, while Arsenal have previously snapped up Cesc Fabregas, Fran Merida, Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral from La Masia.

In fact Barcelona are concerned that Sanabria could follow in the footsteps of Fabregas who shortly after arriving at Arsenal was forcing his way in the first team and receiving regular action in the Premier League.

Sanabria has trained with the first team but has been playing his football in the Spanish second division with Barcelona B and may well decide that the time is right for him to play at the highest level.

He has already been capped twice by Paraguay after making his debut in a 3-3 draw with Germany back in August, and is seemingly ready for senior football.

While Martino will be desperate to keep hold of a player described as the 'jewel of the Barcelona academy', he may well struggle to convince Sanabria that he will be handed opportunities in the near future.

Sport reports that there are already offers from several Champions League clubs that is likely to include Arsenal and Manchester City, while Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers may hope his record of giving young players a chance could prove a powerful bargaining chip.