Arsenal are reportedly interested in rivalling Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in trying to sign Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto on a free transfer.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 15: Sergi Roberto of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring their team's fourth goal during the LaLiga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on August 15, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. FC Barcelona will host between 20,000 and 22,0000 fans in the stadium as the Regional government has authorised a capacity of 30 percent with the requirement to maintain a meter and a half distance between people or groups of people who have tickets. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – AUGUST 15: Sergi Roberto of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring their team’s fourth goal during the LaLiga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on August 15, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. FC Barcelona will host between 20,000 and 22,0000 fans in the stadium as the Regional government has authorised a capacity of 30 percent with the requirement to maintain a meter and a half distance between people or groups of people who have tickets. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Sergi Roberto is out of contract in the summer and, as a result, is free to sign a pre-contract with any club he wants outside Spain in January.

Manchester City are said to be interested in bringing the 29-year-old midfielder to the club in the summer when his deal expires but, according to TalkSport, Arsenal have added the Spaniard to their 2022 shopping list.

Free is, of course, a price that will appeal to Arsenal but Roberto’s age might go against Mikel Arteta’s ‘Project Youth’.

Besides, if City offer him a deal, it seems unlikely he will want to come to Arsenal to help build something when he can just go and play for Guardiola and win immediately.

It’s not exactly as if time is on his side at this point.

Roberto has scored two and assisted one this season for Barcelona in 11 matches, averaging just over 45 minutes per game.