Carlos Vela in bargain buy-back clause return to Arsenal

Mexico exile Carlos Vela has been linked with a move back to his former club Arsenal (10/1 to win next season’s Premier League) in the summer, following his impressive form with current side Real Sociedad.

The 25-year-old, who started his senior career with the Gunners, reportedly has a £3m buy-back clause and Arsene Wenger is set to activate it to bring the forward for a second stint to the Emirates.

Vela has netted an impressive 20 goals and made 13 assists this season for the Spaniards in all competitions, helping his side to sixth place in La Liga with one game of the campaign to go.

Although he was not prolific during his first spell with Arsenal – he scored just three Premier League goals in 29 matches – his stock and tally has gradually risen since joining Sociedad, initially on loan in 2011.

In his three seasons at the Basque outfit, Vela has managed to get 41 goals in 106 La Liga appearances, and his £3m tag for the Gunners is too good to pass up and take another chance on him.

Wenger is currently on the lookout for new talent up front, with French forward Olivier Giroud having to play in nearly every game of the season, due to lack of backup. While Vela has been used mainly out on the right wing this term, he is also adept to being used in the support striker role.

Current Arsenal stand-in Nicklas Bendtner is out of contract and has not impressed enough to earn himself a new deal, while youngster Yaya Sanogo is not yet ready to step up to the plate.

Follwoing a dispute with the Mexican Federation, Vela has been overlooked by another national boss, this time Miguel Herrera and, as a result will sit out of the World Cup in Brazil this summer.

He has not played for the national side since March 2011, but back El Tri to come through a tricky Group A at the finals without him, which includes hosts Brazil, as well as Croatia and Cameroon. Odds of 5/4 says they can qualify to the knockout phase, or 9/1 to top the pool.