Yaya Touré says he's staying with Barcelona

Ivorian midfielder Yaya Touré insists that he has no intention of leaving Barcelona for Arsenal in the upcoming transfer window, despite strong rumors of the Gunners' interest in luring him to the Emirates.

After signing for Barça in 2007, Touré initially struggled to hold down a place under previous manager Frank Rijkaard.

Since the arrival of current coach Pep Guardiola however, the 25-year-old has become an integral component in the engine room of a side that managed a run of 21 unbeaten matches before succumbing to defeat at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk earlier this month.

His conversion from reserve to starter at Camp Nou has not quelled speculation of a move to the Premier League with Arsenal, a club with whom he spent a considerable portion of his soccer education before moving to the Blaugrana from Olympiakos.

Yaya, the younger brother of Arsenal's Kolo Touré, is well acquainted with Arsene Wenger, but insists that his future lies in La Liga with the Catalan club.

"I know of Arsenal's interest but I insist I have no desire to seek an exit," he told El Mundo Deportivo. "The rumors will not affect my game. My head is with Barcelona. There are no doubts."

It's shaping up to be a quiet transfer window for the current Liga leaders. Technical secretary Txiki Begiristain doesn't foresee significant dealings in the market. "We are not predicting any exits or arrivals in January," he said.