Barcelona playmaker Denis Suarez is refusing to give up on his dream move to Arsenal despite the Catalan club so far blocking his loan to the Premier League.
Arsenal manager Unai Emery is understood to have held direct talks with the player and Suarez, who previously played under the coach at Sevilla, is convinced by the Spaniard’s plans and wants to move to London.
However, Barcelona want to sell Suarez in January and have tried to coerce the player into moving to Sevilla or Real Betis in a £19million deal this month.
The player, however, has so far steadfastly refused to go those clubs and is prepared to wait until the summer to secure his reunion with Emery – even if that means Barcelona leave him out for the rest of the campaign.
Arsenal do not have the financial means to commit to signing Suarez in January but the midfielder’s agent suggested a £2m loan fee and then a summer option in excess of £20m if Arsenal wish to make the move permanent.
Barcelona, by contrast, only want to agree to an obligation to buy instead of an option.
Arsenal are reluctant to agree to any major spending until they can shift Mesut Ozil and his £350,000-a-week wages and while their participation in next season’s Champions League remains in doubt.