Alexis Nunes and Craig Burley run the rule over the latest big transfer rumours.
Denis Suarez is finally set to complete his loan move to Arsenal after Barcelona re-opened talks over a January switch, sources have confirmed to ESPN FC.
Talks broke down last week after negotiations reached a stalemate with Arsenal only wanting to sign Denis on loan. Barca were willing to let the midfielder leave temporarily, but only if any prospective deal included an obligatory option to buy.
However, with the player keen to push through a switch to London, Barcelona have found a workaround. Denis will join Arsenal on an initial six-month loan, with the Premier League club paying a small fee up front. They will then have an option to sign the former Manchester City youngster for around €20 million at the end of the campaign.
But the Catalan club will prolong Denis’ contract by an additional year until 2021, which they believe will protect his sell-on value should Arsenal choose not to make the deal permanent in the summer.
Barcelona would have preferred to sell Denis this month, and had offers worth more than €15m from both Real Betis and Sevilla, but the player was set on a reunion with Arsenal coach Unai Emery, who he previously played under while on loan at Sevilla four years ago.
The Catalan club were initially reluctant to agree to a loan move without the security of an obligatory option to buy. They are still aggrieved about Inter Milan not taking up their option to sign Rafinha permanently last summer after a successful loan spell.
But with Denis extending his contract, they were prepared to soften their stance. It now means he will still have two years left on his deal if Arsenal decide not to sign him when his loan ends.
Denis, 25, has made just eight appearances in all competitions this season for Barca. Only two of those appearances have been as a starter — in the early rounds of the Copa against third division side Cultural Leonesa.
He has played in England before with Man City but left to sign for Barcelona in 2013 and, following spells with Villarreal and Sevilla, he returned to Camp Nou for a second spell 2016, inheriting Xavi’s No. 6 shirt.
In total, he has made 71 appearances for Barca’s first team, playing across the midfield and as a winger.
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