Barcelona are yet to make formal contact with Arsenal over a move for Mesut Ozil, despite reports in Spain linking the Catalan giants with a January offer.
Ozil is in the final year of his contract at Arsenal and has so far turned down a fresh deal, which would double his wages to more than £250,000 a week.
The 29-year-old midfielder will be free to talk to overseas clubs from January 1.
Manager Arsene Wenger stated earlier this week that a final decision will be taken on the futures of both Ozil and Alexis Sanchez next month.
Barcelona were linked with a late bid for Ozil in the summer after they failed to prise Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool, and the club are looking at alternatives if a deal for the Brazilian cannot be revived in January.
Coutinho remains Barcelona’s first-choice target, with the proposed transfer mooted to cost around £130million.
Ozil could be secured for a fraction of that outlay if Arsenal decide to sell - or for nothing at all next summer, when he becomes available on a free transfer.
Ozil would also be available to play in the Champions League this season because Arsenal are engaged in Europa League duty and, in any case, he is yet to appear in the competition.
Wenger has hinted that both Sanchez, who continues to attract interest from Manchester City, and Ozil could leave the club in January but it is understood no official move has been made for either player yet.
