Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez has admitted that the Spanish giants are interested in signing Celta Vigo attacker Nolito in the January transfer window.

The 28-year-old was strongly linked with a move to the Camp Nou throughout the summer market, with many reports suggesting that the Spanish international had been identified as the player to replace Pedro, who made the move to Chelsea.

Celta resisted all talk of a move, with head coach Eduardo Berizzo and president Carlos Mourino both playing down the interest when questioned.

However, Nolito has previously admitted that he would be interested in a move to Barcelona and now Fernandez has revealed that there is interest from the Catalan giants.

"It's true that we're evaluating a number of players. [Nolito] is a player that both the coach and I know very well, but it's not an easy situation," Fernandez told Esport3.

"He's a market opportunity, so we'll see if we can [sign him] or not."

Nolito, whose current release clause stands in the region of £13m, hit 13 goals and 13 assists in La Liga last season and has started the new campaign in impressive fashion – registering two goals and one assist in two league matches.