Nolito has effectively put a stop to speculation linking him to Barcelona and Arsenal by confirming his intention to sign a new contract at Celta Vigo.

The 29-year-old has reportedly been targeted by many of Europe’s biggest sides after a spectacular start to the La Liga season, in which he has scored eight and assisted five goals in 15 games.

His displays have helped fire unfancied Celta to a top four place and after 15 games Eduardo Berizzo’s side sit just two points behind Real Madrid.

However Nolito’s current deal contains a release clause that would make him available for a mere £12.5 million. He said last month that he would not sign a new deal due to a detail in his contract but his attitude appears to have changed.

Arsenal's midfield targets for January 8 show all Arsenal's midfield targets for January 1/8 Lars Bender Age: 26



Club: Bayer Leverkusen



Value (Transfermarkt): £15.4m



The German anchorman has been on Arsenal's list of targets for several years without interest every crystallising into a bid. However Bayer chairman Michael Schade has admitted every player at the club has a price - might Arsenal pay up for the midfielder amid their current injury crisis?



That's certainly what bookmakers are starting to think, with the odds of January deal for Bender having halved last week. Getty 2/8 Lucas Biglia Age: 29



Club: Lazio



Value (Transfermarkt): £12.6m



Two and a half years on from his move to Rome Argentinian international Biglia has established himself as a crucial part of the Lazio side that earned Champions League qualification last year. But Stefano Pioli's side have struggled to build on their success this year and currently languish in mid-table having exited the Champions League in the qualifying rounds.



Biglia is reported to have turned down a new deal at the Stadio Olimpico; his current agreement expires in 2018. 3/8 Henri Saivet Age: 25



Club: Bordeaux



Value (Transfermarkt): £1.75m



A less obvious replacement considering Arsenal's key issues are in defensive midfield, but Saivet has reinvented himself from a wide attacker to midfielder with some success this season.



Several other Premier League scouts were reportedly in the stands when Bordeaux travelled to Anfield for a Europa League tie last month. And they would have been impressed by what they saw as the 25-year-old gave the visitors an early lead with a well-taken free-kick. 4/8 Vincent Koziello Age: 20



Club: OGC Nice



Value (Transfermarkt): £700k



The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has already estbalished his place in the Nice side this season and has found an important role in a free-scoring side alongside Hatem Ben Arfa and Monaco loanee Valere Germain.



The Gunners have had scouts at several Nice matches this season, and Koziello is not the only youngster to have caught their eye. 5/8 Nampalys Mendy Age: 23



Club: OGC Nice



Value (Transfermarkt): £5.25m



After finding himself pushed out of Monaco in 2013 as a glut of foreign stars arrived the defensive midfielder has become a key player at Nice, belying his short stature to prove himself in the engine room of the French side.



As Francis Coquelin awaits an extended period on the sidelines Wenger may feel that Mendy represents an ideal player to cover. But he may be able to do more than that; Monaco scout Didier Christophe has even referred to him as a "carbon copy" of the ultimate anchorman of the early 2000s, Claude Makelele. 6/8 Grzegorz Krychowiak Age: 25



Club: Sevilla



Value (Transfermarkt): £17.5m



The Polish midfielder has been diffident on reported English interest in the past, revealing in October that the weather was too cold to tempt him in to leaving Andalusia.



But that should not put Wenger off if he chooses to target Krychowiak in January or in the summer - he has experience of the Champions League and was a key part of the Sevilla side that lifted the Europa League trophy earlier this year. 7/8 Adrien Rabiot Age: 20



Club: Paris Saint-Germain



Value (Transfermarkt): £5.6m



Arsenal attempted to interest PSG in a deal for the young midfielder on the final day of the summer transfer window and, whilst they were given no encouragement to do so then, they remain interested in the midfielder.



With the likes of Marco Verratti and Blaise Matuidi ahead of him in the pecking order at the Parc des Princes Radiot has managed just one Champions League start and 710 minutes of league football this season. Whether Arsenal could complete a permanent or loan deal they remain keen on the Frenchman. 8/8 William Carvalho Age: 23



Club: Sporting



Value (Transfermarkt): £18.2m



Another long-standing target for Arsenal, and the midfielder has rarely been shy of expressing his interest in the club, saying in October that he was keen to follow in the footsteps of Theirry Henry at the Emirates.



The prospect of a summer move for Carvalho was derailed when the Angola-born midfielder picked up a stress fracture to his tibia.



Carvalho has since returned to both the Sporting and Portuguese sides and shown no signs of slowing down. 1/8 Lars Bender Age: 26



Club: Bayer Leverkusen



Value (Transfermarkt): £15.4m



The German anchorman has been on Arsenal's list of targets for several years without interest every crystallising into a bid. However Bayer chairman Michael Schade has admitted every player at the club has a price - might Arsenal pay up for the midfielder amid their current injury crisis?



That's certainly what bookmakers are starting to think, with the odds of January deal for Bender having halved last week. Getty 2/8 Lucas Biglia Age: 29



Club: Lazio



Value (Transfermarkt): £12.6m



Two and a half years on from his move to Rome Argentinian international Biglia has established himself as a crucial part of the Lazio side that earned Champions League qualification last year. But Stefano Pioli's side have struggled to build on their success this year and currently languish in mid-table having exited the Champions League in the qualifying rounds.



Biglia is reported to have turned down a new deal at the Stadio Olimpico; his current agreement expires in 2018. 3/8 Henri Saivet Age: 25



Club: Bordeaux



Value (Transfermarkt): £1.75m



A less obvious replacement considering Arsenal's key issues are in defensive midfield, but Saivet has reinvented himself from a wide attacker to midfielder with some success this season.



Several other Premier League scouts were reportedly in the stands when Bordeaux travelled to Anfield for a Europa League tie last month. And they would have been impressed by what they saw as the 25-year-old gave the visitors an early lead with a well-taken free-kick. 4/8 Vincent Koziello Age: 20



Club: OGC Nice



Value (Transfermarkt): £700k



The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has already estbalished his place in the Nice side this season and has found an important role in a free-scoring side alongside Hatem Ben Arfa and Monaco loanee Valere Germain.



The Gunners have had scouts at several Nice matches this season, and Koziello is not the only youngster to have caught their eye. 5/8 Nampalys Mendy Age: 23



Club: OGC Nice



Value (Transfermarkt): £5.25m



After finding himself pushed out of Monaco in 2013 as a glut of foreign stars arrived the defensive midfielder has become a key player at Nice, belying his short stature to prove himself in the engine room of the French side.



As Francis Coquelin awaits an extended period on the sidelines Wenger may feel that Mendy represents an ideal player to cover. But he may be able to do more than that; Monaco scout Didier Christophe has even referred to him as a "carbon copy" of the ultimate anchorman of the early 2000s, Claude Makelele. 6/8 Grzegorz Krychowiak Age: 25



Club: Sevilla



Value (Transfermarkt): £17.5m



The Polish midfielder has been diffident on reported English interest in the past, revealing in October that the weather was too cold to tempt him in to leaving Andalusia.



But that should not put Wenger off if he chooses to target Krychowiak in January or in the summer - he has experience of the Champions League and was a key part of the Sevilla side that lifted the Europa League trophy earlier this year. 7/8 Adrien Rabiot Age: 20



Club: Paris Saint-Germain



Value (Transfermarkt): £5.6m



Arsenal attempted to interest PSG in a deal for the young midfielder on the final day of the summer transfer window and, whilst they were given no encouragement to do so then, they remain interested in the midfielder.



With the likes of Marco Verratti and Blaise Matuidi ahead of him in the pecking order at the Parc des Princes Radiot has managed just one Champions League start and 710 minutes of league football this season. Whether Arsenal could complete a permanent or loan deal they remain keen on the Frenchman. 8/8 William Carvalho Age: 23



Club: Sporting



Value (Transfermarkt): £18.2m



Another long-standing target for Arsenal, and the midfielder has rarely been shy of expressing his interest in the club, saying in October that he was keen to follow in the footsteps of Theirry Henry at the Emirates.



The prospect of a summer move for Carvalho was derailed when the Angola-born midfielder picked up a stress fracture to his tibia.



Carvalho has since returned to both the Sporting and Portuguese sides and shown no signs of slowing down.

“They are just rumours,” Nolito told Marca of reports linking him to Barcelona. “Let me be clear and unequivocal. I only know what I read in the press and what my friends tell me.

“I think if Barcelona really wanted me they would have called Celta and I am not aware of that.

“The only truth is that I am happy in Vigo and, therefore, with just minor details to be resolved I am going to renew my contract with Celta shortly.”

Nolito’s current deal does not expire until the summer of 2018 and any new contract he signs is likely to significantly increase the release clause Celta would be due.