Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Andriy Yarmolenko and Nolito Rumours

Arsenal's hopes of landing Dynamo Kiev forward Andriy Yarmolenko this winter could rest on whether Barcelona are successful in their pursuit of Celta Vigo striker Nolito, it's emerged.

Yarmolenko has been cited as a potential replacement for Pedro, but Spanish outlet Fichajes has reported Barca will instead look to sign Nolito, leaving the Ukrainian free to hook up with the Gunners (via Metro's Will Giles).

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Arsenal currently sit fourth in the Premier League but are attempting to bounce back from a rocky start to the campaign after failing to sign any senior outfield players this past summer.

The effects of that inactivity have been brought to light after Theo Walcott superseded Olivier Giroud as the club's first-choice striker, and former Italy international Gianluca Vialli says the team is totally unbalanced, per football writer Samuel Jay C:

Yarmolenko scored 19 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions for Dynamo last season as he led his club to the Ukrainian Premier League crown, with the likes of Arsenal and Barca alleged to have paid attention.

Spanish football writer Sergi Dominguez is among the 25-year-old's admirers and recently outlined the kind of attributes that have made the winger such a hit in Ukraine's capital:

Despite emerging as a wide man, Yarmolenko is capable of playing across the front line and would present a similar prospect to Walcott in some ways, although a more elite calibre of striker may be what's desired by the fans.

Barca could be about to land something closer to that in the shape of Nolito, who was this week confirmed by Spanish newspaper Sport as La Liga's Player of the Month for September:

The Spain international garnered widespread attention lately after netting a brace in Celta Vigo's 4-1 thrashing of Barcelona and has been linked with the Blaugrana in the past.

With Barca's transfer ban coming to its end on January 1, the European champions will be free to sign players once more. Manager Luis Enrique will have been buoyed by Nolito's comments back in August, where he stated the Camp Nou would be his only destination were he to leave Celta, per Goal's Joe Wright:

"

I go there or I stay at Celta, no matter what team comes in.

I've had a lot of offers, financially to earn much more money, but I'm happy here, I feel like a player and I have the affection of the fans. 

I repeat: I go to Barcelona or I stay at Celta.

What's being said [about a deal being agreed] is a lie. I've had no offer from Barcelona. 

As I said at the time, Celta are in charge because there is an €18 million [release] clause. Yes, it's true that I've had offers from other teams but I took the decision to stay here. 

You can't say no to Barcelona. They're one of the best teams in the world.

"

There doesn't appear to be any room for interpretation in the forward's comments, and the Gunners should hope the player is as good as his word if they're to complete a deal for Yarmolenko.

The Dynamo marvel also boasts a sterling record of 20 goals in 50 international appearances, almost equating to a goal every other game, which is by no means a ratio to shrug at for a man in his position.

Yarmolenko has long been associated with a potential switch to the English top flight, but it could be that Nolito's transfer finally sees the stars align ahead of Arsenal's January surge.