Barcelona are chasing Arsenal midfielder Alex Song. The Sunday Mirror says the 24-year-old Arsenal midfield player is seen as the ideal replacement for Mali international Seydou Keita who plans to quit the Camp Nou next June.

Song has impressed ­Gunners' manager Arsene Wenger this season and ­Arsenal have already made one attempt to secure the Cameroon international on a longer deal.

There are still more than three years to run on his current contract but Wenger views Song as a major asset as his versatility has seen him play him in both ­central defence and midfield.

Barcelona are ready to pay more than £15million and manager Pep Guardiola will first talk to former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas - who moved to Barcelona from Arsenal for £35m in the summer - rates his ex-team-mate highly so that will tempt Guardiola.