Celta de Vigo winger Nolito may have played his last game for the club after being ruled out for four weeks with a hamstring injury.
Nolito, who has been in the form of his life, has been heavily linked with a move away from the Galician club with former club Barcelona or Arsenal believed to be interested in a January move for the Spanish international. Celta have been trying to renew his contract and increase the buyout clause but no deal has been signed yet although the player has suggested repeatedly that it is his intention to stay in Vigo.
Barça interested in a forward
Barcelona are believed to be in the market for a back-up forward after losing Pedro Rodríguez to Chelsea in the summer and youngsters Sandro and Munir El-Haddadi have been covering injuries to Lionel Messi and Neymar. Luis Enrique would prefer a more experienced back-up, although reports suggest Nolito would be out of the club's price range as they try to lower their wage bill. A move to Arsenal would be the most lucrative for Nolito but the player feels he has unfinished business in Barcelona and looks to be delaying signing his new deal as it would most definitely rule out a move to Catalunya.
Nolito has been enjoying an excellent season with Celta and has eight goals and five assists in his 15 league appearances for Los Celestes who find themselves in fourth place in La Liga, just two points behind Real Madrid. Eduardo Berizzo has done well with Celta and while they are far from being a one-man team, losing Nolito would be a massive blow to their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season. However, as things stand the player can leave in January if anyone pays his release fee of €18million and for a player of his quality that may just prove to be a bargain.