Arsenal open formal talks with Barcelona to sign David Villa

Posted Tuesday, January 29, 2013 by Goal.com

Gunners' contract negotiator Dicky Law has been in Spain to negotiate a permanent transfer after the Catalan giants softened their stance on selling the striker this month

Arsenal have opened formal talks with Barcelona to sign David Villa, Goal.com can reveal.

The Gunners’ contract negotiator Dicky Law has been in Spain to negotiate the transfer of the country’s all-time leading goalscorer and Arsenal are increasingly hopeful they can push through what would be a sensational deal in the last days of the window.

The Londoners were knocked back by Barcelona when they made an approach for Villa earlier this month.

But Arsene Wenger has refused to accept defeat in his pursuit of the forward and has been encouraged that the runaway La Liga leaders have softened their stance on selling him in recent days.

Spanish sources have told Goal.com that Villa is “very keen” to join Arsenal after growing frustrated with his lack of opportunities at the Nou Camp.

Wenger is a long-time admirer of Villa, who turned 31 last month, and is prepared to pay up to £13.8 million to sign him on a permanent deal and match his current £110,000-a-week wages.

Negotiations have centred on the construction of the deal, with Barcelona still owing Arsenal scheduled payments for the transfers that took Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song to Camp Nou in the summers of 2011 and 2012.

Wenger wants a marquee signing to galvanise both the supporters and the playing squad as the club attempt to secure a top-four league finish and negotiate a round-of-16 Champions League tie against last season’s runners-up Bayern Munich.