The move seems very much alive after Arsene Wenger admitted he may be prepared to let the player leave and Espanyol denied the rumours linking him with them.

“Some offensive players don’t play games like Carlos Vela,” Wenger said

“If he can get games somewhere else we will loan him out.

“Not sell him, loan him out because he needs to play. He is a top-quality player and at the moment we have too many strikers.

“He does not get the games he deserves. He has an opportunity that I let him go somewhere.”

While Espanyol’s denial read “At the moment, we do not want this footballer. I think the talk in the papers is just rumours.”

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted previous interest in the player before the last transfer window shut so a move may be on the cards but nothing has been confirmed from the Swansea perspective.