Arsenal's hopes of keeping Hector Bellerín at the Emirates have received a boost after Barcelona appeared to take their search for a right-back elsewhere.
The 21-year-old defender, who came through Barca's famed La Masia academy before being poached by the Gunners, is seen by the Nou Camp club as someone who possesses 'Barca DNA' and ticks a lot of boxes for them as they look for a long-term replacement for legendary full-back Dani Alves.
So far this season they have made do with versatile midfielder Sergi Roberto, who has been outstanding since he first began to fill in on the right side of defence last year.
But the Spanish champions need a more long-term solution and sporting director Robert Fernandez is on the record as praising the "fantastic" Bellerín and how he'd fit in at Barca.
"To know how to play in Barcelona defensively is very difficult.
"You have to give importance to these players," he said.
Club vice president Jordi Mestre took this further by suggesting Bellerin would return to Barca a better player.
The defender himself conceded that he was "happy" to hear of interest from his boyhood club but it appears that it may go no further with Arsenal continuing to rebuff any approach and instead looking to extend the Spanish international's contract beyond its current expiry in 2019.
Barcelona, who need reinforcements soon, know that prising the Gunner away from the Emirates would be a long, drawn-out and expensive process.
For around half of the fee it would require to sign the Arsenal man they could secure Joao Cancelo from Valencia, and SPORT reports on Thursday morning that the two La Liga clubs are already in talks over a transfer.
After spending £12million on Cancelo in the summer of 2015, Valencia have seen the defender improve markedly.
Former boss Gary Neville used the 22-year-old on the right of midfield as well as in defence, reflecting his strength going forward to support the attack.
Cancelo would be expected to fetch around £20-25million but reports in Catalunya suggest Barca flop Aleix Vidal could be included in the deal as a makeweight.
If agreed, the Portuguese defender would become the third major Valencia player to sign for Barcelona in a matter of months after the blockbuster £46million move for midfielder Andre Gomes and then the late-window purchase of striker and captain Paco Alcacer for £23million.
Manchester City continue to be interested in Bellerín but the Arsenal heirarchy are known to be very much against the idea of strengthening a Premier League rival and will look to tie up a new deal before the right-back enters the final two years of his deal, handing the player and his entourage more leverage.