Arsenal believes they have a deal in principle with Alexis Sánchez, but Barcelona are eager to include him as a makeweight in their pursuit of Luis Suárez.
Sánchez appears to prefer a move to Arsenal, though he may be playing Liverpool and Arsenal off each other for a bigger contract.
Arsenal are likely to have to increased their offer to beyond £25 million for Sánchez.
Sánchez’s decision is now the only obstacle to a deal for Suárez being concluded relatively quickly.