Arsenal ROCKED as Barcelona perform stunning U-TURN over Denis Suarez deal

Arsenal are keen to loan the Spaniard initially as they are struggling to raise funds for a permanent deal despite his reported release clause being just £20million.

And Gunners manager Unai Emery is desperate for new signings in the winter window as he deals with an ever-growing injury crisis.

Laurent Koscielny was the latest casualty – the Frenchman pulling up in the warm-up before Saturday’s 3-0 win at Blackpool on Saturday.

Emery also has problems further forward, with Danny Welbeck a long-term injury concern.

While Suarez has played mainly through the middle for Barca, he was deployed on the wing by Emery when the pair worked together at Sevilla.

Asked whether the deal for Suarez was close after the Blackpool victory, Emery replied: “I don’t know.

“I think the club is working for the possibility to take some players who can help us during these next four months.

“Maybe the transfer market can help us with a centre-back, but it is not easy because also (Konstantinos) Mavropanos is coming back after injury.

“Also a winger, right or left, one player can help us in this position.”

On Suarez playing as winger, he added: “He was playing in his career, and with me also, as a right or left winger.”