Arsenal line up third bid for Barcelona star lighting up La Liga

Arsenal are lining up a third bid for a Barcelona star who's been lighting up La Liga this season.

The Gunners remain top of the Premier League table ahead of a massive run in between now and the end of the season with holders Manchester City chasing them down.

Despite needing to keep focus, rumours are already swirling around what additions Mikel Arteta might make to his squad this summer to help keep them challenging at the top.

One player they have been consistently linked with is Barcelona winger Raphinha who has impressed in Spain this season as the Catalan side march towards the title.

According to Football Insider, the Gunners are considering a bid after they tried to sign him last summer and in January.

They were beaten to his signature last summer by Barcelona and the player refused a mid-season move earlier this year, according to The Sun.

Barcelona need the money

Despite this, it hasn't put Arsenal off and one of the likely reasons why is that Barcelona are in desperate need of funds due to ongoing financial issues.

Although he's been hailed as "the future of Barcelona" by his manager Xavi, the decision may be taken out of his hands and for the right price the club could be persuaded to sell.

On Barca's financial issues, La Liga chief executive Javier Tebas explained: "We have strict economic controls. At the end of each window, we tell all the clubs in La Liga what they can spend.

"In the case of Barcelona, they have to drop from spending on wages and transfers from 650m euros to 450m euros - so it’s a budget of minus 200m Euros."

Whilst they face a battle off the field they are firmly winning it on the field and are currently 12 points clear at the top of La Liga.