The David Villa to Arsenal saga promises to rumble on right until the end of the January transfer window, with the Spanish striker reportedly telling the North London club he wants to join them by Thursday.
Villa has been Arsenal's No. 1 target this month, but Arsene Wenger has so far seen all advances rebuffed by Barcelona.
"If somebody is not for sale you expect other clubs not to try and buy him," Wenger said prior to the game against Liverpool, which Arsenal should have really won, but only drew. "Barcelona don't want to sell David Villa and have made it clear."
Now according to highly-respected Spanish journalist Quim Domenech Puigbo, who also revealed that Victor Valdes would not sign a new contract with Barcelona before the story broke, has said Villa is desperate to join Arsenal in the January transfer window.
"Villa has told his inner circle that he would like to leave Barcelona and join Arsenal," he said.
Villa has also reportedly told Arsenal playmkaer Santi Cazorla and Wenger he wants to make a move to the Emirates as soon as possible.
the 31-year-old was again left out of the starting lineup in the El Clasico against Real Madrid, and it is quite clear that the Spanish record goalscorer will only be a bit part player at Barca this season - something almost unimaginable for a player of his talent.
If the move does not materialize in January, however, Arsenal are reportedly ready to bide their time and make a move in the summer.
Meanwhile, Wenger said he hopes the loan move to Fulham for Emmanuel Frimpong will help the defensive midfielder improve his game after another season disrupted by injury.
"At the moment he has many players in front of him and he is at an age where he needs to play," Wenger told the Official Matchday Programme.
"I am 100 percent convinced he has the quality to play in the Premier League. He comes back from injury, the players in front of him are fit and he's a bit stuck there. I want to give him an opportunity to play."
