Ibrox boss Alex McLeish announced yesterday that the Catalan giants had accepted an offer, reportedly worth £6m (€9.7m) for the midfielder.

But Paris St Germain, the club where Arteta is on loan, still believe they have first refusal on Arteta.

A Barca spokesman said: ‘‘We can only say that there has been contact with Rangers. He is with Paris St Germain until the end of the season, and then we’ll see what happens.

‘‘We can’t make anything official nor can we support or deny anything.’’

Arteta’s agent Miguel Santos was clear that the 19-year-old had still to put pen to paper.

‘‘Arteta has not signed for anybody,’’ he said.

‘‘Barcelona are still the first option, and if they are not counting on him there then we’ll see what happens.’’

The news that Arteta was set to join Rangers came as a surprise to PSG president Laurent Perpere, who believed his club had first refusal on the Spaniard until the end of April.

He told the club’s official website: ‘‘I am very surprised to find out that Arteta, who was loaned to us by Barcelona this campaign, has signed a contract linking him to Glasgow.

‘‘PSG has an exclusivity clause until the end of April 2002, which means that Barcelona cannot have signed any agreement with the Scottish side.’’

Arteta has played 27 games for PSG the team Rangers beat on penalties in the UEFA Cup third round - and coach Luis Fernandez has already made it clear he wants him to stay at the Parc des Princes.