Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign Barcelona forward Philippe Coutinho on loan for a year, but need the Catalans to pay a portion of his wages in order to facilitate the move, according to The Telegraph.
Arsenal are believed to be the favourites to land the Brazilian, who is keen on a return to the Premier League.

Arsenal are set to focus on signing attacking reinforcements this summer. The Gunners have been linked with a move to sign soon-to-be free agent Willian, and are said to be closing in on a deal to sign Coutinho.

The Barcelona winger is set to return from his loan spell at Bayern Munich, and doesn’t appear to have a future at the Nou Camp.

Barca are keen to sell the 27-year-old in order to ease their finances and raise funds for a move to sign Lautaro Martinez.

But according to The Telegraph, the La Liga runners-up will have to pay some of his wages if he is to sign on loan for Arsenal.

The Gunners made 55 members of staff redundant on Wednesday due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, they are still set to push through with their transfer plans, though won’t have the funds to meet Coutinho’s wages, with the loan deal set to cost them £10million.

The forward is on a whopping £240,000-per-week at Barcelona, and those wages have put off a series of suitors from the Premier League.