Goal: Arsenal closing in on Denis Suarez loan

Chris Wheatley of Goal.com is reporting that they”understand” that Arsenal is closing in on a deal to take Barcelona’s Denis Suarez on loan for the remainder of the season, and rumors are that the La Liga powerhouse is insisting on a mandatory buy clause in the loan agreement due to the winger’s contract expiring in 18 months.

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery feels the Spanish winger can compete for regular starting spots against established first-team players Alex Iwobi and, when healthy, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and given the news he delivered earlier today at his press conference that the club is financially incapable of funding full-fledged transfers this month they see this route, with players in these sorts of predicaments with their parent clubs, being the only way to improve the squad as they look to compete for the final Champions League spot in the league as well as achieving Europa League success.

Suarez was named to Barcelona’s 18-man squad in their Copa del Ray encounter versus Levante this evening (as of writing, the match is at halftime and he’s still an unused substitute), but that after the match is over there could be a flurry of activity that sees his move to London finalized much sooner than later, with Wheatley reporting the two clubs are in “advanced discussions” regarding his loan deal.

More to come, etc etc.