Arsenal urged to sign Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets

Arsenal has been advised to complete a deal for Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets to help boost its title chances.

The Metro has reported that the Gunners submitted a £24.4m bid in order to sign the Spanish international.

Busquets played a central role as Barcelona won the treble last season, winning the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League as it swept aside all comers last term.

Petr Cech is the only signing made by Arsenal this summer but there remains a perception that central midfield and attack are areas that need improving should the club have designs on bridging the gap to champions Chelsea.

In the absence of a genuine holding midfield player, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger last season turned to Francis Coquelin, who was recalled from a loan spell at Charlton Athletic and was parachuted into the first team.

But should Arsenal have any realistic ambitions of competing with Chelsea − who they finished 12 points behind last term − former midfield Paul Merson says the north London club should pursue Busquets.

"I still think that they need a holding midfielder – they are talking about them putting in a bid for Busquets from Barcelona and if they can get him, that would be a massive signing as he is a big player," he told Sky Sports.

"Arsenal had Francis Coquelin in that role last season, but will you win the Premier League with just him as your holding midfielder though?

"I don't think so, so for me I think they need to still get a holding midfielder, so that really dents them.

"Especially when you get to the latter stages of the Champions League, as you have to remember that Coquelin was on loan last season, so if you look at a team sheet with his name on it."