L'Equipe: Arsenal are close to securing the loan of Philippe Coutinho
The London club plan to add the midfielder to their attack and Barça would get Coutinho's salary off the wage bill
It seems like Philippe Coutinho's time at FC Barcelona is coming to an end. The Brazilian, who is currently with the first-team squad for their US tour, could be about to jump on a plane heading for London. According to 'L'Equipe', Arsenal are on the verge of signing Coutinho on loan for the upcoming season, without an option to make it permanent in 2020. Unai Emery's side have been linked with a move for a while now and, after the signing of Nicolas Pepe, it appears Coutinho will be their last signing of the window.
This would be a deal that suits all parties. Barça need to reduce their wage bill if they are to bring in Neymar (another loan deal). Valverde currently has far too many midfielders available to him and this would help reduce the numbers. The coach gave Coutinho lots of opportunities to turn his situation around last season but the Brazilian didn't take any of them.
Everything should become clear in the next few hours. It might see the midfielder abandon Barça's US training camp to seal his move before England's transfer deadline on Thursday.
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