Barcelona's desperate push to land Philippe Coutinho continues, with the Liverpool star remaining top of their January wishlist.
But after missing out on the Brazil star in the summer, the Spanish league leaders are cautious of allowing the issue to drag on again.
Despite three transfer offers and a transfer request from the player, the Reds stood firm.
However Barca's interest hasn't gone away, with Los Cules having earmarked Coutinho as their choice to replace club captain Andres Iniesta in the long term.
And as they enter a critical phase of the season, they're unwilling to let the issue run throughout the transfer window.
According to Mundo Deportivo, club chiefs have decided that if a deal cannot be done by the end of December, then they will need to move on.
Barcelona have crucial La Liga fixtures next month, while the Copa del Rey also ramps up. Then, veteran star Iniesta increasingly needs to be rested in the twilight of his career, and Ernesto Valverde wants him fully ready for the Champions League tie with Chelsea in February.
Sport claim Liverpool are demanding €150million to sell the player - something the Anfield club have refused to confirm. However, while it's claimed there is an agreement between Barcelona and Coutinho, it's reckoned Barca want to pay Liverpool in instalments.
That is something Liverpool have shown little inclination to do, with all of Barcelona's summer offers offering little money up front, with money via instalments and consistent with Coutinho achieving certain targets during his time in Spain.
If Barcelona fail to cut a deal, then they will move for Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and Gremio midfielder Arthur.
Ozil has been offered £275,000-a-week to remain at Arsenal, and are hopeful the German midfielder will sign an extension.
But Ozil is open to waiting and a move from Barca in January would give both he and Arsenal something to think about. A figure in the region of £20million has been mooted.
Gremio starlet Arthur won the Copa Libertadores with the Brazilian club earlier this month and has already held talks with Catalan officials.
He was recently pictured in a Barcelona shirt and negotiations have been opened - although Gremio insist they want his full £45million release clause.
There is also interest in the 21-year-old from the Premier League, but Barca could push ahead with moves for both he and Ozil if they give up on prising Coutinho away from Anfield.
Mirror Sport reported at the weekend that Coutinho is unlikely to rock the boat in January - provided the Brazil star gets assurances he can head to Camp Nou next summer.
That compromise agreement would allow the playmaker to concentrate on Anfield until the end of the season and then switch to La Liga.
Agreeing to a deal next summer would also allow Liverpool time to search for a replacement themselves. The Reds have already secured the signature of highly-rated RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita.
However, it would leave Barcelona still seeking to fill a hole that they failed to during the summer.
Coutinho was then desperate to leave and while he has knuckled down since - even captaining Liverpool in the 7-0 Champions League destruction of Spartak Moscow - he has refused to offer any guarantees over his future.
He remains open to departing next month if the two sides can make a deal and knows that unless some sort of compromise is reached, then the Catalan giants will move elsewhere.