Arsenal will have to jump another hurdle in any pursuit of Raheem Sterling, if the latest reports are to be believed.
The Manchester City winger has been linked to the Gunners for some time now, but there's never been anything concrete to suggest they were ever close to agreeing a deal.
Sterling has just over a year and a half left on his current deal at the Etihad but has admitted that he will leave the club if they fail to give him regular minutes in the coming months.
A signing of his quality will undoubtedly improve Arsenal, but judging by reports, they'll find it tough to sign him.
That's because he would prefer either a return to Liverpool or a move abroad.
According to Spanish outlet El Nacional, the winger would rather remain in the Premier League and work under Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
However, Man City are reportedly 'unwilling' to negotiate with a direct rival and will only entertain offers from abroad.
Barcelona have also been linked with a move for the England international and 'good relations' between the La Liga club and City could make a deal possible, the article claims.
Sterling has previously admitted his love for Liverpool too and refused to rule out a shock return: "Would I ever go back to Liverpool? To be honest with you I love Liverpool," he said last year.
"Don’t get it twisted, they are always in my heart. It’s a team that has done a lot for me growing up so…"
Meanwhile, he's also admitted that he would like to move abroad one day.
Talking to FT Business of Sport US Summit in October, Sterling said: "If there was the opportunity to go somewhere else for more game time I would be open to it at this moment in time.
"As I said, football is the most important thing to me — challenges that I have set myself from a young age and dreams as well.
"As an English player all I know is the Premier League and I’ve always thought maybe one day I’d love to play abroad to see how I would come up against that challenge.
"I should be learning different languages. I quite like the French language and accent, and the Spanish."
It's a transfer saga that's sure to ramble on a while longer, but for now at least, it seems as though Arsenal are not at the forefront of Sterling's thinking.
