Arsenal are interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Aleix Garrido, according to reports in the Catalan media.

The 19-year-old made his first-team debut when he came on as a substitute against Elche back in April and the Gunners have been keeping tabs on his progress.

Garrido impressed for Barca’s Under 19s in the UEFA Youth League, scoring once and providing six assists in six group matches. However, he didn’t play in the 3-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in the last 16 due to an ankle injury.

The midfielder was also given a taste of senior football at the start of last season, having made five appearances for Barcelona B in the Spanish third tier but, his impressive form in the Youth League is likely what caught the attention of first team head coach Xavi.

Following his debut against Elche, he was then selected in the matchday squad for the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final versus Real Madrid, and the subsequent league fixtures against Girona and Getafe.

Do Arsenal have a realistic chance of signing Garrido?

The Spanish Under 19 international signed a new two-year contract extension a couple of months ago, keeping him at the Camp Nou until 2025, so it would be a surprise if the midfielder was keen on leaving the La Liga champions at the moment.

Considering that Garrido has also recently been handed his debut, he will feel that there is a chance that he could break into the first team next season.

If he doesn’t get any further game time for the senior side, though, and he remains with the B team, he could be more open to a move next summer. For now, Arsenal and other interested clubs will probably adopt a watching brief and monitor his development. Garrido is certainly a player to keep an eye on nonetheless.