wordpress core and mysqli_connect

I tried searching about plans for mysql_connect and couldn’t find anything recent but may have missed it.

I am wondering if there are any plans to move from mysql_connect to mysqli_connect() with p: host prefix.

From my basic understanding and research I understand that mysql_pconnect is supposed to be better than mysql_connect but that extension is deprecated in 5.5.0 and the recommended replacement is mysqli_connect (see http://php.net/manual/en/function.mysql-pconnect.php )

Thanks.