Arsenal and Tottenham are set to go head-to-head in the pursuit of a new forward during the summer transfer window.
The Gunners could be one of the most attractive prospects in European football heading into the summer after they lifted the Premier League title during the 2025-2026 season.
Arsenal almost completed a double, losing the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on penalties last month.
For Tottenham, attracting players isn't going to be as easy after two years in a row spent battling to avoid relegation.
Spurs undoubtedly need a huge overhaul of their squad in the summer, but it's not going to be easy due to their current situation.
Tottenham and Arsenal Battling for Forward
According to a report from Sports Boom, Arsenal and Tottenham are locked in a hot pursuit to try to sign Real Sociedad forward Ander Barrenetxea in the summer transfer window.
It's claimed that Arsenal are already preparing an opening bid in the region of £26 million, but Tottenham intend to make him a key target.
Barrenetxea is believed to have a release clause in the region of £65 million, and Real Sociedad will be pointing directly to that in negotiations.
It appears Arsenal's potential offer isn't going to be enough, and either they or Tottenham will need to fork out a hefty amount of money to secure his signature.
It feels unlikely that either club would be willing to pay the £65 million, and it remains to be seen whether Real Sociedad are willing to negotiate.
Arsenal Likely to Have Advantage in Race
If Arsenal and Tottenham are both battling it out for the signing of Barrenetxea, described as a 'baller', it feels unlikely that Spurs would be able to win the race.
Arsenal were able to offer Champions League football, which in turn would likely mean more game time due to more competitions and rotation.
On the other hand, Tottenham's squad certainly isn't as good, so there is a chance that Barrenetxea could nail down a starting spot in Roberto De Zerbi's side.
Either way, it appears that Real Sociedad aren't going to let him go without a fight unless one of the two sides decides to trigger his release clause.