Report: Villa Tells Barcelona He Wants January Transfer

Barcelona striker David Villa has told the club he wishes to leave the Camp Nou, according to the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel.

The 30-year-old striker's game time has been limited since returning from a broken leg suffered in December 2011 and it is understood the former Valencia ace now sees his future away from the Camp Nou.

But just last weekend, Villanova had told reporters (via Sky Sports), "David is not going to leave. We are very happy with him." 

However, with the Spanish international growing increasingly frustrated with his peripheral role, President Sandro Rosell may decide to cash in to make the most of the dwindling time on his contract.

Despite playing second fiddle to Lionel Messi for large parts of the current campaign, Villa has still found the net an impressive 10 times in 22 appearances, and with the 2014 World Cup now little under 18 months away, La Roja's all-time top scorer will be looking for regular first-team action.

A loan move to Chelsea was floated by the Daily Mail in December, but Los Blaugranas are much likelier to prefer a sale.

The Independent are reporting that Villa's stance may entice Arsenal to make an offer, and with Manchester City's Mario Balotelli potentially on his way to Milan, could the man known as El Guaje even become a viable short-term target for Roberto Mancini?

Villa has scored a healthy 42 goals in 98 games since joining Barcelona from Valencia in the summer of 2010, but that record has been overshadowed by Messi's 165 strikes over the same period.

The former Sporting Gijon youth product hasn't registered in La Liga since the beginning of November, but showed a reminder of his undoubted class in the recent rout over Sugunda Division Cordoba in the Copa del Rey.

Villa scored a brilliant individual brace and that sort of quality is not easily replicated. If he is genuinely available, Villa will be a major asset for any Premier League side.

Follow me on Twitter @bainesyDiego10