Arsenal are said to be the frontrunners to sign Philippe Coutinho on a loan deal next month, with the Barcelona renegade preferring the Emirates to their Premier League rivals.
After falling out of favour at the Nou Camp, Coutinho, 29, has been linked with a number of English clubs. Xavi, the new Barca manager, has told the Brazilian that he will only have restricted playing time under his watch.
Coutinho's downturn at Barcelona has been brought to the attention of Arsenal, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United, who are all reportedly keeping eyes on the former Liverpool star. Coutinho is reportedly leaning towards a January move to north London, with Mikel Arteta's Gunners said to match both his objectives and wage demands, according to Spanish source Sport.
Coutinho is aware that he will have to give up his astronomical £200,000-per-week income to leave the Nou Camp, but he is looking for a destination that will allow him to achieve his on-field objectives.
For the Brazilian, Newcastle appears to be an improbable destination. Despite the newly-rich Magpies' high ambitions of upsetting English football's elite, Coutinho is believed to be hesitant to join them due to their current relegation woes.
Arsenal and Tottenham are said to have made offers for the 29-year-old in recent weeks, with the Gunners originally being wary of a loan move due to financial concerns. A transfer could be possible if Coutinho is willing to lower his salary. Barcelona are desperate to shed a few players in the January transfer window in order to alleviate their financial troubles. This week, the club confirmed the £55 million purchase of Ferran Torres from Man City, but they still need to pay off the likes of Coutinho and Samuel Umtiti.
The Catalans reported this year that their debts had surpassed £1 billion, prompting a number of key players, notably Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, and Jordi Alba, to take pay cutbacks in order to support the club.
'It would be useful to change something, even if it is never easy,' Arteta has previously remarked of his January move plans.
'We're working on it, trying to figure out what our needs are and how to meet them.'
Arsenal are now in fourth place in the Premier League, with teenagers Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Martinelli impressing.
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