Arsenal given major Dani Olmo transfer update as Barcelona decision made ahead of January window
Barcelona have failed in their latest attempts to register Dani Olmo for the rest of the season amid reported interest from Arsenal in the Spain international.
Olmo re-joined his boyhood club last summer, a decade after leaving their La Masia youth academy at 16 to sign for Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia. Barcelona agreed to pay RB Leipzig around £50million for the player in early August but have struggled to register him ever since.
The attacking midfielder was thus ineligible to play in their opening two league games. La Liga then temporarily permitted them to register Olmo because of the multiple long-term injuries to players in the squad, crucially former Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen, but only until the end of December.
READ MORE: Who is Konstantinos Karetsas? Arsenal in transfer race for wonderkid who turned down Man City
READ MORE: Gabriel Jesus fires early Arsenal team news hint vs Ipswich as big Mikel Arteta decision made
That allowed Barcelona to meet La Liga's salary limit and have Olmo available to play, but they are now again struggling to find space for the player. Therefore, they appealed to the Commercial Court number 10 of Barcelona for a precautionary registration until the end of this season.
The hearing started on Monday, but the appeal did not succeed. However, the magistrate court, Juzgado de Primera Instancia, will hear a new lawsuit starting next week, a day before the New Year's Eve deadline.
If that is unsuccessful, then Olmo will not be able to play for Barcelona next year. Mundo Deportivo claims the player has a clause in his contract allowing Olmo to leave on a free transfer should they not register him.
Sky Switzerland reported on Monday that Arsenal were in regular contact with the player's representatives. Should Olmo become available, the Gunners and Manchester City are considered the frontrunners.
The Mail revealed on Boxing Day that the player's agent, Andy Bara, was in Manchester, who claims he is holidaying there. City were also said to be showing interest in Olmo before this summer's move to Barcelona.
