Arsenal have signalled their intent to keep Emmanuel Adebayor by rejecting an offer of £24 million from Barcelona. Joan Laporta, the president of the Catalan club, had hoped to complete a deal for the Togo forward before a vote of no-confidence from club members on Sunday, but he is likely to have to make an offer closer to £30 million for Arsenal to consider a deal.

During all his discussions with the club, Adebayor has told Arsenal, where he has three years left on his contract, that he wants to stay, but that they must keep to a promise of a new deal as a reward for an outstanding season. Adebayor scored 30 goals during the campaign, showing the promise that was expected when he joined from AS Monaco for £4.2 million in 2006.

Stéphane Courbis, the player’s agent, is expected to meet Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, this week, after the pair held talks in Vienna last Friday. “Since the beginning, there has been a love story between Adebayor and Arsenal and his relationship with Wenger is based on trust and respect,” Courbis said.

“Emmanuel is a man of heart, not of money. He is not greedy. He is a kid from the street, has sensibilities and is humble. If this was a money problem, then he would have asked to leave. I know that Arsenal’s political position is that they don’t pay high salaries.”

Didier Drogba and Benjani Mwaruwari are among the strikers who are paid more than Adebayor, who improved his deal last summer to about £35,000 a week. Arsenal have offered Adebayor a contract worth about £45,000 a week, but may not wish to increase this because they are prepared to sell him. Arsenal’s dilemma is that Adebayor could argue that he should be paid in accordance with their £30 million valuation. This would mean offering more than £60,000 a week.

Adebayor, who is in Togo for an event for his charitable foundation, wants his future resolved before the start of the season. “It is important for Emmanuel that Arsenal show their motivation to keep him,” Courbis said. “Whatever they will decide, the decision will be taken with respect.”

Vagner Ribeiro, Robinho’s agent, has said that Chelsea want to buy the Real Madrid forward. “I met Frank Arnesen [the Chelsea director of scouting and youth development] and he confirmed to me that Chelsea wanted my player for next season,” Ribeiro said.

Decent bets

Kevin-Prince Boateng has been told that he can leave Tottenham Hotspur. The midfield player, who joined from Hertha Berlin last summer, has attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart. Boateng made seven league starts last season, but Tottenham have since signed Giovani dos Santos and Luka Modric, who play in a similar position.

Paris Saint-Germain have said that Didier Digard’s move to Middlesbrough has stalled because they are waiting for bank guarantees from the Teesside club. The midfield player had said that the deal was held up by PSG wanting the £4 million paid up front.

Liverpool are trying to revive a deal for Albert Riera, the Espanyol left winger who was on loan at Manchester City two seasons ago.

Dead certs

Steve Bruce, the Wigan Athletic manager, has signed Daniel de Ridder for the second time in a year after the midfield player was released by Birmingham City.

Portsmouth have signed Ben Sahar, the Chelsea forward, on a six-month loan.

Derby County have bought Liam Dickinson from Stockport County for a fee of £750,000, which could rise to £1 million. The 22-year-old forward scored 21 goals as Stockport won promotion to Coca-Cola League One in May.