Arsenal are reported to have considered offloading Mesut Ozil to Barcelona in exchange for cash and midfielder Arda Turan.
Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo claims the proposed deal to place 'weeks ago' when the Gunners were keen on Turkey international Turan.
German playmaker Ozil has less than a year remaining on his current contract at the Emirates and has so far refused to accept Arsenal's extension offer.
Speaking about Ozil's future last month, Arsene Wenger hinted he would see out the rest of his deal and leave for free next summer.
“It’s not an issue," said Wenger. "I think it’s an ideal situation. Why? Because everyone has to perform.
"When you’re a football player, you perform until the last day of your contract. Whether you have two or one year left, it doesn’t change. You want to play and do well.
"Do you really think they sit in the dressing room and think: ‘Oh, I have one year to go, I will not play well today.’ When you are a football player, you want to play well. What does that have to do with the length of your contract? It’s amazing.”
Turan, meanwhile, could still leave the Nou Camp this summer with French champions Monaco understood to be interested