Arsenal offered chance to sign Barcelona playmaker

Barcelona have reportedly offered Arsenal the chance to sign Philippe Coutinho on a season-long loan this summer.

The Brazilian is presently on loan with Bayern Munich where he has enjoyed a good season with nine goals and eight assists in all competitions.

He is, however, expected to return to the Camp Nou at the end of the season with the German side deciding against the triggering the buy clause in his contract.

According to ESPN, Coutinho has the preference of returning to the Premier League this summer with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the running for his services.

It is added that the Blaugrana have already made contact with the Gunners over a temporary deal for Coutinho and they are willing to sanction the move for around £10m.

Still, the north London side are not in a position to sign him, given they are reluctant to meet his £250,000-a-week wages under the current financial crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta remains a huge admirer of the former Liverpool man. The Spaniard is understood to have closely monitored the playmaker's progress when he was the assistant at Manchester City.