Sandro Ramirez
Sandro Ramirez has made five La Liga appearances for Barcelona this season. Getty Images

Arsenal's hopes of securing the services of Nolito during the January transfer window have taken a blow after reports in Spain suggested Spurs will help fund Barcelona's move for the Celta Vigo sensation by signing Sandro Ramirez. Sport claims Mauricio Pochettino has already approached the Catalan outfit to enquire about Ramirez's availability, and that a price of €10m (£7.4m, $11.4m) has been floated.

Barcelona have been heavily linked with Nolito ever since the departure of Pedro Rodriguez to Chelsea left Luis Enrique short upfront. AS, however, recently reported that the Gunners were ready to take advantage of the Catalans' struggling financial services and swipe the player for themselves, as Barcelona would need to sell a squad player before buying anyone new.

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Sport now believe Tottenham Hotspur have the key to the deal, as Pochettino is reportedly eager to sign Ramirez as a back-up to Harry Kane and would thus deliver the cash Barcelona need to buy Nolito.

The Catalan publication claimed that Newcastle United had previously tried to secure Sandro's services during the summer transfer window before being rebuffed by Barcelona, who were unwilling to sell the player while the club was still operating under a Fifa transfer ban.

Barcelona consider Sandro one of the most promising youngsters to have emerged recently from La Masia and would thus require at least €10m to let him go – the same figure Aston Villa paid over the summer to sign Adama Traore. Barcelona would also include a buy-back clause in the deal, allowing them to bring him back to the Nou Camp in future.

Sandro was expected to have an important role to play this season at Barcelona, backing up Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar following Pedro's departure. However, he has started just one La Liga game and may be open to a move to the Premier League in order to secure more playing time.