Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has played down the prospect of joining Premier League leaders Arsenal as he looks to secure a move away from the ‘Catalans’.

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has played down the prospect of joining Premier League leaders Arsenal as he looks to secure a move away from the ‘Catalans’.

The Spain first-team goalkeeper, who is due to bring his eleven-year tie to the La Liga champions to a halt when his contract expires at the end of the season, insists he would rather join big-spending Monaco.

Monaco already have ex-Barcelona’s player in Eric Abidal who joined the French club last summer and Valdes relishes the possibility of reuniting with the Frenchman, who returned to his professional playing career after a kidney transplant.

“Playing alongside him (Abidal) again would be special.”

Image: Marca. Valdes Embraces Abidal During Barca’s Session.

Gerardo Martino’s side have reportedly agreed a fee with German club Borussia Monchengladbach-in the tune of £6.75m- for Marc-Andre ter Stegen to replace Valdes at the end of the current campaign.

Other goalkeepers who have been linked with the Camp Nou outfit includes Napoli’s on-loan Liverpool shot-stopper Pepe Reina, Celtic’s Fraser Forster and Chelsea’s Thaibut Courtois.