Reports in England and Spain have claimed Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen is getting closer to joining Barcelona.
Marca cites stories from England that say La Blaugrana will pay €12.5m to sign the Belgium international, with Manchester United also lurking.
But Arsenal would prefer to sell to Barca rather than strengthen a domestic rival and the good relationship between the Catalans and the Gunners, established during the transfer of Alexis Sanchez, could be a factor.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has acknowledged that Vermaelen is likely to leave the club this summer, 12 months before his contract expires.
Barca have signed Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia but Luis Enrique is said to want another centre-back, with Vermaelen now at the top of the list.
