Barcelona Transfer News: Alvaro Negredo, Emile Smith-Rowe, Top Blaugrana Rumours

Valencia striker Alvaro Negredo has reportedly rejected the chance to join Barcelona for the second half of the season.

So reported Sport, which noted he was offered a six-month spell with the Blaugrana in a personal meeting with Barca sporting director Robert Fernandez, but he decided against the move as he hopes to gain more significant minutes at the Mestalla.

The 30-year-old made just nine appearances this season under Nuno Espirito Santo as he fell out of favour and was left out of the squad for seven consecutive La Liga matches. Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez had no explanation for the striker's enforced absence:

Negredo is a fairly prolific centre-forward and a proven goalscorer in La Liga with 107 goals to his name across spells with Sevilla, Almeria and now Los Che.

Per Sport's report, Barca are targeting "a striker who can join at zero cost" to replace the departed Pedro, at least until the summer when more serious recruitment can be done, and Negredo's experience and clinical finishing made him a strong candidate.

However, as Sport further noted, the Spaniard will be given a fresh chance to prove himself under new coach Gary Neville. Indeed, he was given a run out for 38 minutes in the Englishman's first game in charge.

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

Therefore, he will likely earn more game time staying put than he would as cover for Barca's forward trio, so his decision is understandable.

Barca are also reportedly monitoring Arsenal youth player Emile Smith-Rowe, and had him scouted recently, according to the Mail (h/t the Mirror). However, to ward off their interest, the Gunners are preparing to offer the 15-year-old a long-term deal to keep him at the Emirates Stadium.

The news comes in the wake of Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu's admission the club's La Masia academy is vulnerable to poaching from the Premier League. According to the Financial Times (h/t Jamie Anderson of the Daily Star), he said:

"Young players of 16 years of age receive very tempting offers from the Premier League and we lose some every season. We are competing with clubs that are owned by huge corporations or billionaires with unlimited resources."

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Encouragingly for Barca supporters, he remains adamant the Catalan giants will keep hold of their top stars despite Premier League interest, with Anderson noting Manchester United have been linked with a sensational move for Neymar. Speaking to the Financial Times (h/t Anderson), he added:

"Barcelona will always have the financial means to cope with offers from English clubs for players like Messi, Neymar or Luis Suarez."

According to Anderson, the rumour mill has been sent into overdrive of late following reports of Barca's troubling financial situation.

While Bartomeu's statement could merely be posturing in the hope of warding off clubs such as United, one thing is clear—regardless of their financial troubles, the Blaugrana will fight tooth and nail to keep their stars at the club.