Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey could 'easily' play for Barcelona says Ian Rush

Arsenal and Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey could easily make the step up to play for Barcelona, according to Ian Rush. The 25-year-old has constantly been linked with a move to the Nou Camp and Rush believes the speculation is justified.

The Express understand Barca remain interested in acquiring the former Cardiff City man, despite having their overtures rebuffed last summer. The Sun reported prior to last year's summer transfer window that the La Liga champions were plotting a £50m move for Ramsey.

Though Ramsey's injury record has seen him in and out of the Arsenal first team since moving to north London in 2008, he played a key role as Wales qualified for the summer's European Championships. Those performances have caught the eye of Rush – the ex-Liverpool forward – and he believes Ramsey could make the step up to play for Luis Enrique's side.

"I think he's a great player, fantastic," he told Wales Online. "People who criticise him don't know enough in my opinion. He's a match winner, his energy is vital and I think he's a big part of Arsenal's play. It's no coincidence that people talk about him and Barcelona, he's one of those that could easily play in that league.

"I think the way Barcelona play suits him. Aaron likes to get forward and score goals, and his sense of duty in midfield would be less there than it is at Arsenal. He would be a great pick if he went somewhere like that."

Fitness problems saw Ramsey and Gareth Bale miss the friendlies against Northern Ireland and Ukraine, but manager Chris Coleman is expected to name both players in his 23-man squad for the finals in France. Wales face Russia, Slovakia and England in their group and Rush believes Coleman's side will pose Roy Hodgson's team plenty of problems.

"I don't think they'll lose," added Rush, who scored 28 goals in 73 caps for Wales. "England will be favourites because they've got match-winners, but if Wales win the first game I will be very confident going into the England game that they won't lose.

"We know they've got. The likes of [Simon] Church and [Sam] Vokes, we know what to expect, they're work horses who will give everything. That's the difference. England may look to have a bit more class and might get more goals but one thing you know is that the attitude will be excellent from those two."