The Gunners managed to head Milan off at the pass by slapping a hefty price tag on the head of Emmanuel Adebayor. However, there now appears to be another club in the running, where price might be less of an object.

The Daily Mail report that Barcelona may be in the hunt for the Arsenal striker, depending on whether he’s on their three-player shortlist for a hitman. Even more worrying for the North London club are the comments that the Togolese striker has made with regard to playing for Barcelona, although the more cynical amongst us might think he’s simply angling for more cash at the Emirates.

Pep Guardiola said: ‘We want a No 9; we need one to complement Henry and Bojan. We want three up there competing and some of the names in the papers have been very good.’

Adebayor is on record as saying: There is not a player who could say no to Barcelona. If Barcelona make an offer for me and reach an agreement with Arsenal, I would be delighted to go there.’

Has Adebayor become the new Didier Drogba with the above sort of comments? It certainly sounds a bit disrespectful to the club which have made a man and player out of him. Perhaps Gooners should start bracing themselves for a season without their number 25, perhaps Van Persie and Eduardo can tear it up as a strikeforce next season anyhow.