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Arsenal 'unwilling to meet Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho demands'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 28 May 2020

Arsenal 'unwilling to meet Barca's Coutinho demands'

Arsenal reportedly tell Barcelona that they are unwilling to meet their demands to sign Philippe Coutinho on loan for a fee of £10m and with his full wage packet covered.

Arsenal have reportedly told Barcelona that they are unwilling to meet the terms set out for a possible loan deal to bring Philippe Coutinho to the club.

The 27-year-old has been heavily linked with a return to the Premier League, having struggled to live up to his price tag at Barcelona and not impressed enough to earn a permanent deal at Bayern Munich, where he is currently on loan.

Chelsea are still regarded as favourites for Coutinho's signature, while a host of other Premier League clubs have also been linked with a move.

ESPN claims that Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United have all been offered the chance to sign the Brazil international on loan.

However, Barcelona are reportedly demanding a loan fee of £10m and for Coutinho's entire weekly salary of £250,000-a-week to be covered - terms which Arsenal have rejected.

Barca are also thought to be open to selling Coutinho permanently for around half of the £142m they paid to sign him from Liverpool in January 2018, although that price is still likely to be too high in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.