Arsenal boss Unai Emery has distanced the club from speculation over a dramatic loan move for Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho by insisting: “We have never talked about him”.
The Gunners have been linked with a deal for the former Liverpool star, who has failed to meet expectations following his £142million switch from Anfield in January 2018.
But after watching his side lose their final friendly 2-1 against Barca in the Camp Nou yesterday, Emery addressed reports Arsenal were monitoring the situation by telling Spanish outlet El Larguero: “I like Coutinho as a footballer, but it is another thing that we are interested in him.
"We have never talked about Coutinho.”
Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have been mooted as possible destinations for Coutinho but it is believed he is keen to stay and fight for his first-team place despite the arrival of Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid and persistent rumours Barcelona are interested in re-signing Neymar from PSG.
