Barcelona have given up their pursuit of Celta Vigo striker Nolito after Celta rejected their offer of taking the striker on loan with an option to a permanent transfer in the summer. According to Sport Luis Enrique has accepted that he will not be bringing in any players this window.
Celta Vigo striker Nolito has been Barca boss Luis Enrique’s first-choice target to bolster his attack (because having Messi, Neymar and Suarez is not enough) for several months, but it appears as though the 29-year-old will not be moving to the Camp Nou this month.
According to Marca, Barcelona had proposed to take Nolito on loan in this window and make payments for it in the summer. Understandably, Celta Vigo rejected the proposal along with several other offers made by the Catalan side.
Barca had agreed on personal terms with Nolito, but they were unable to strike a deal with Celta, who rejected several proposals tabled by the Catalan club.
According to Sport, both Luis Enrique and Nolito were hoping the deal went through and now the same outlet is reporting that Arsenal are ready to move for Nolito. Arsenal could sign Nolito in the final stages of the transfer window to boost their striking options.
Nolito has a buyout clause believed to be around £12.6m and the club have made it clear that if a club wants to sign their prized asset, it will have to activate that clause.
Arsenal could do with a new striker given the fact that they are still competing for the Premier League title along with the Chmapions League and the FA Cup and with Olivier Giroud being the only recognised centre-forward Arsenal have, Nolito is definitely a risk worth taking.
Nolito was Luis Enrique’s main transfer target, with the coach hoping for a reunion with the player he had coached at Barcelona B as well as at Celta Vigo. Nolito was desperately hoping to link up with someone he describes as a “sporting father”.