Sporting’s Joelson Fernandes wanted by Arsenal and FC Barcelona

17-year old forward Joelson Fernandes is attracting interest from across Europe with Arsenal, Barcelona and Juventus in a race to beat the other in signing the Sporting Lisbon player first.

According to reports in Portugal and England, Arsenal are ready to pay the 45 million euro release clause that features in Fernandes’ current deal. In the meantime, Sporting have been trying to tie the teenager, who has since broken into the first team, to a new deal until 2025, after which his release clause will be increased to 90 million euros.

Barçelona have been following the Portuguese market closely, as demonstrated by the January signing for Francisco Trincao from Sporting Braga, who will move to Camp Nou in the summer. Fernandes is another of the young players emerging in Portugal that the Catalan club have been closely monitoring.