Emiliano Buendia will not be moving to Arsenal in the January transfer window but preparations appear to be underway ahead of a proposed summer move.
The Gunners are long-term admirers of the Norwich City midfielder and are keen to bring the Argentine to the Emirates Stadium to provide a boost to their creativity in midfield.
However, the Championship promotion-chasers have made it clear they will not approve an exit this month, with Canaries boss Daniel Farke stating this week: "It makes no sense for any of my key players to leave at this moment. And it makes no sense for us as a club right now to sell any of my players."
"I think if there is a route for one of my best players, then it's definitely the summer. It's better for them, better for us, in the summer it could be a topic but in January I don't see any business."
That has led Mikel Arteta to look elsewhere and Real Madrid's Martin Odegaard is a target, with a loan move until the end of the season on the cards, but Arsenal may have other ideas for the long-term.
Mundo Deportivo states the 24-year-old's representatives will travel to London in the coming weeks to initiate talks with Arsenal.
A deal for Buendia will not be completed this month and will instead be 'postponed' until the summer, the report adds, suggesting Arsenal are already planning for next season.
Arteta and Edu have focused heavily on trimming the squad in the January transfer window, with Mesut Ozil, Sead Kolasinac and Sokratis departing.
Significant exits are also poised to occur at the end of the season, where David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi see their deals come to a close.
That leaves plenty of wiggle-room in Arsenal's squad for new additions, including for foreign players as the departures reduce their current quota.
