Arsenal summer target Alen Halilovic is according to Croatian newspaper jitarnji.hr involved in advanced talks with Barcelona after sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta travelled to Zagreb to meet with Dinamo Zagreb president Mirko Barisic.
The 17-year-old attacking midfielder is the youngest player to have ever played in the Croatian League and to also to represent his country in the national team.
Halilovic is often compared to Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, and it is the Spanish giant’s current trainer Carlo Ancelotti who tried to sign him three years ago after witnessing him at a youth tournament when he was still only 14.
Last summer both Arsenal and Spurs were trying to sign him but after a failed bid by Barcelona in January it is the Catalans who are firm favourites to get him after returning to the table with a more substantial offer believed to be around £4 million.
Last November when speaking to Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport Halilovic said: ‘My father told me that you cannot have a career in Croatia and reach the highest levels.
‘I’ve never been in talks either with Juventus or with Inter. I don’t want to say which is my favourite team, in case I’ll join another one.
‘I love English and Spanish football, and during last summer I was near to a particular club, and they are still tracking me.’
