Wenger says he likes Spaniard but is ‘not on the case of signing him’.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted he is an admirer of Barcelona striker David Villa but says the club currently have no plans to sign the Spaniard.
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The Gunners reportedly attempted to bring the 31-year-old to the Emirates Stadium in January but Barca publicly refused to sell the former Valencia striker.
It is understood that Villa was keen to join the Premier League outfit, after slipping down the pecking order at the Nou Camp, and remains interested in a move to North London in the summer.
But Wenger has dampened speculation that he is keen to sign the Spain international.
“I am not on the case of signing him (Villa),” Wenger is quoted as saying by ESPN.
“I like the player, but we have some more immediate targets that are more important to us, like beating Blackburn on Saturday.”
Villa has made just eight starts for the Catalans this season, with boss Tito Vilanova preferring the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Cristian Tello and Pedro as support for Lionel Messi.
Meanwhile, Barcelona confirmed on Friday that Villa has left hospital for the second time after suffering a recurrence of ‘renal colic’ pain but will not be available to face Grenada on Saturday.
The forward had previously been release from hospital on Tuesday after suffering abdominal pain.
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