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- Confirmed line-ups: Preston vs Arsenal – Nwaneri and Martinelli start
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L’Equipe: Brazilian attacker to join Arsenal from Euro giants
There are some sensational reports from L’Equipe via the Mirror today that claim Philippe Coutinho will join Arsenal on a season-long loan deal from Barcelona.
Coutinho has been tipped to leave the European giants after struggling to settle following his big-money move from Liverpool 18 months ago and he was even booed by some of his own fans last season.
With Barca signing Antoine Griezmann and being heavily linked with Neymar, plus the fact they have a tone of midfielders, Coutinho is set to fall down the pecking order next season and it’s led to widespread speculation suggesting he’ll be on the move.
Arsenal’s name has been mentioned over the past couple of weeks and there were reports suggesting we’d hold talks with Barca chiefs after our game on Sunday night but Unai Emery appeared to pour cold water over the rumours after insisting after the match he wasn’t interested in the South American.
However, L’Equipe, via the Mirror, claims that a deal has now been agreed for Coutinho to join Arsenal on a season-long loan. The claim comes from the same journalist who first broke the news that Neymar wanted to leave this summer so he is well respected in the field.
Obviously Coutinho would be a sensational signing for Arsenal if we did bring him to the Emirates this summer and the Brazilian playing alongside the likes of Mesut Ozil, Nicolas Pepe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette is a mouth-watering prospect.
However, it just seems so far-fetched to me. Another attacking midfielder is arguably the last thing Arsenal need right now and we should be throwing all our money/efforts at strengthening the defence before Thursday’s deadline.
We desperately need a top class centre-back and are still hoping to sign Kieran Tierney so I just don’t see Arsenal having the money to also fund a move for Coutinho, even if it’s a loan deal.
Perhaps if we’ve found a buyer for Henrikh Mkhitaryan or Mesut Ozil then fair enough, the Coutinho move would make sense, but there have been no reports to suggest either player is set for a move away from Arsenal so I’d be shocked if anything came of these Coutinho rumours.