Balague offers update as £20m star opts for Arsenal move after chat with Emery

The January transfer window is open and managers are working hard on strengthening their squads and identifying targets for the summer so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest rumours. Today, the latest on Arsenal’s interest in Denis Suarez…

Guillem Balague has offered an update on Arsenal’s pursuit of Denis Suarez amid reports the midfielder has agreed to make a move to north London following talks with Unai Emery.

Suarez has been strongly linked with a switch to Arsenal this month after struggling to establish himself under Ernesto Valverde at the Nou Camp this season with the midfielder playing just 8 minutes of La Liga football so far this campaign.

Understandably, the 25-year-old is eyeing a fresh start in search of regular football and Spanish outlet Sport claim Suarez has turned down a host of European clubs in favour of joining Arsenal.

The Catalan-based newspaper says Suarez informed Barcelona of his preference to join Arsenal after being convinced over the move following talks with Emery, and the pair are keen to be reunited in north London having worked together at Sevilla.

Sport says negotiations between the two clubs are on-going but with Suarez’s contract due to expire in 2020, Barcelona are determined to secure a permanent deal before his value drops even further in the summer with the Mirror claiming they want around £20m for the player.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has now offered his insight in to the situation and confirmed that Suarez wants to join Arsenal this month but says the clubs are still haggling over the structure of the deal.

As has been reported, he says Arsenal want an initial loan deal as funds are tight and we’re also looking to sign a centre-back, but Barcelona want either a permanent transfer now or an obligation to buy in the summer included in any agreement. Either way, Balague says Barca want the situation resolved by the end of the week.

Here is his tweet with a link to his video which provides full details on the Suarez-to-Arsenal situation as it stands:

Denis Suárez wants #arsenal. Arsenal want loan (also looking for CB). But #FCBarcelona want a transfer (or obligation to buy in the summer). FCB would like it all sorted this week if possible

All in the #GBTransferShow plus Isco, Cesc, Rabiot, Ramsey.https://t.co/DeM7zL1Fln

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) January 9, 2019

Suarez is predominantly a central midfielder so he’d be viewed as a potential replacement for Aaron Rasmey but the Spaniard is also capable of playing on the wing – where Emery deployed him during his time at Sevilla – so he’d give the boss plenty of options.

We certainly need another wide attacker as Danny Welbeck has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle while Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also out with a fractured foot so we are short in the wide areas.

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It seems Suarez is the man Arsenal want but it remains to be seen whether we’ll be able to strike an agreement with Barcelona this month or be forced to wait until the summer to get any deal over the line.