What a crazy transfer window this has been, and it may be about to get even crazier.
Arsenal appear set to sign former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho on a loan deal from Barcelona.
According to reports in France and Spain tonight, the Gunners have beaten off interest from other Premier League clubs and are now set to sign the talented Brazilian temporarily. It is not known whether or not the deal will have any option to buy.
L'Équipe are reporting that Arsenal used their visit to Catalunya at the weekend to agree a loan deal with Coutinho. They are set to sign the former Liverpool midfielder. #AFC pic.twitter.com/qqSXjEyofj
— Fresh Arsenal (@Fresh_Arsenal) August 6, 2019
L’Equipe in France reported early on Tuesday that Arsenal were close to securing a deal, and in the Wednesday edition of their paper, they reiterate these claims.
They say that the Gunners appear to have benefited from their visit to Catalunya (last Sunday when Arsenal faced Barcelona in a friendly) to agree a loan with the Spanish champions and the representatives of the player.
L'Équipe in tomorrow's edition on Arsenal x Philippe Coutinho – not backing down: "The Gunners appear to have benefited from their visit to Catalunya (last Sunday) to agree a loan with the Blaugrana & the representatives of the former Liverpool player."
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) August 6, 2019
And it is not just L’Equipe who are reporting this. Sources in Spain seem pretty certain that a deal will be done too.
Fresh Arsenal were reliably informed earlier today that both Arsenal and Tottenham were in talks with Barcelona over a deal for Coutinho, Manchester United were also offered a chance to sign him but they declined.
El Larguero report that the future of Coutinho seems to be decided, the Brazilian is one step away from signing for Arsenal. There had been reports of Tottenham also being interested in the player, which El Larquero acknowledge, but they say everything changed in the last few hours as it seemed that the most likely destination for the Brazilian was Tottenham where he was going to leave on loan but the future of Coutinho, they claim is practically closed with Arsenal.
Coutinho turned 27 in the summer and after failing to settle in at Barcelona, it seems he is heading back to the Premier League. Any Premier League fan will remember Coutinho’s brilliance the last time he was in England, after netting 41 goals in 152 appearances and assisting a lot more. It would be some coup for Arsenal to sign the player, albeit in a loan deal.
Any loan deal is expected to cost in the region of £18million – it is not yet known whether or not this fee would include the wages of the player.