Barcelona confident of beating Arsenal to Celta Vigo star Nolito in January

Barcelona are hopeful they can bring Celta Vigo forward and Arsenal target Nolito to the Nou Camp in January, with the club's technical secretary believing the move is now a "real possibility".

The La Liga champions remain persistently linked with the 29-year-old with the club still keen to reinforce their attacking options. A transfer ban prevented Barcelona from doing so in the summer with the departure of Pedro Rodriguez to Chelsea and injuries to Lionel Messi leaving Luis Enrique short of a third attacking option alongside Neymar and Luis Suarez.

But Arsenal reportedly remain in the equation, with Mundo Deportivo claiming in October the Gunners will make an offer to triple Nolito's wages in order to convince him to move to the Premier League.

It would appear though the Catalan giants are confident of keeping the player in Spain, with technical secretary Robert Fernandez telling RAC1: "He [Nolito] is a real possibility. We know what the player's situation is, but there are many more possibilities," Marca reports. "I am not going to talk about how Nolito is as a player. He is a good player, he's in a sweet moment and in the national team, which is always an important fact."

Nolito, meanwhile, has done his best to calm talk over his future. The forward has scored seven goals this season to help lift Celta into La Liga's top four, and while he insist he remains "delighted" at the club, he suggests he will have to consider any January offers that may come in.

"I'm relaxed about matters and have my feet on the ground," Nolito was quoted as saying by AS. "I just try and get on with things and stay away from those rumours that cast speculation about my future. What will happen, will happen. One can never say that 'I'd never try and taste that water' but at present I'm delighted in Vigo. One needs to have respect for Celta. Things are going well here at the moment and we'll just have to see what materialises."