Barcelona will test Arsenal’s resolve by offering £20million plus Rafinha for Hector Bellerin.
The Spanish giants are determined to get Bellerin back to the Nou Camp but know he will not force his way out of the Emirates.
The full-back, 22, still has six years left on the £100,000-a-week contract he signed in November and does not want to rock the boat, despite losing his place in the team.
But Barca are convinced he wants to return to his home city and will tempt boss Arsene Wenger by including £25million-rated Brazilian Rafinha in the deal.
The midfielder, 24, is looking to leave Barcelona for regular first-team football, although he has been out since an April knee operation and could miss the start of the new season.
Wenger, though, is not interested in selling Bellerin and will assure him he remains key to his plans.
His determination to keep the Spanish international has been strengthened by the likely loss of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The England international, 23, has only a year of his deal to run and has yet to open talks over a new one.
Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea are all interested and believe he could be put up for sale in the coming few days.
The Ox’s likely departure comes despite Arsenal appointing former Team Sky legal expert Huss Fahmy to work on contracts.
Fahmy’s arrival is part of a backroom shake-up promised by chief executive Ivan Gazidis, which also includes the appointment of director of high performance Darren Burgess.
Fahmy will assist Gazidis and transfer negotiator Dick Law to ensure there is no repeat of this year’s farce, which has seen key players allowed to get within 12 months of the end of their contracts.
Burgess will work to improve the club’s medical and fitness programmes and has been personally approved by Wenger.