With Harry Kane now gone, Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner have been recruited in the past 12 months, with the onus on now building a squad that can compete at the very top level once again.
Mikel Arteta is working to improve his squad – but he's not the only one (Image credit: Getty Images)
22-year-old midfielder Barrenetxea has impressed in La Liga this season and is rumoured to be attracting the attention of both north London clubs, with Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou also already eyeing up further options to bolster his attacking line in the summer.
Basque native Arteta, meanwhile, spent a year with La Real during his playing career from 2004 to 2005 and is said to be calling on his contacts at the club to help facilitate a potential move.
Real Sociedad star Ander Barrenetxea is a wanted man (Image credit: Getty Images)
Able to operate from both the left and the right, Barrenetxea's technical ability makes him a key threat in forward areas, having scored three goals and registered one assist already this season.
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The Spain Under-21 international has played 22 times for La Real this season and featured heavily in their unbeaten UEFA Champions League group-stage campaign. He made his Sociedad debut aged just 16 in 2018 to become the first player born in the 21st century to play in La Liga.
Bio: Matthew is a freelance journalist and has currently racked up bylines for Manchester United, Manchester Evening News, GOAL and SPORTbible to name a few. A long-term sufferer of Scunthorpe United, he currently resides in the north-west after escaping the smog of North Lincolnshire.
