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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jake Polden

Philippe Coutinho's agent sent clear transfer message to Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke

Philippe Coutinho's agent Kia Joorabchian once urged Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke to bankroll the Gunners in the transfer window.

At the time Arsenal were heading into the summer with a comparatively small budget for new players and fans were growing frustrated.

Supporters formed the group #WeCareDoYou, and criticised Kroenke's leadership, which they felt was causing Arsenal to regress.

Long-term Arsenal fan Joorabchian was among those who hit out at the board, with the agent telling talkSPORT: "I feel for the guys that have just come in – Raul [Sanllehi – head of football] and Edu and [former manager] Unai Emery.

"I feel for them because we have finally got incredibly knowledgeable footballing people there.

Kia Joorabchian once urged Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke to bankroll the Gunners (Action Images)

"Raul came in from Barcelona, Edu came from the Brazil national team and is an legend at Arsenal, and Emery is a fantastic coach who has coached at Sevilla and PSG.

"Finally Arsenal have people who really understand football and are footballing people in the back room staff, but the question is whether or not the finances will be made available.

"If you don't make the finances available, there is no big secret. If you cannot buy some strong players they have to reinforce in defence, they have to reinforce in midfield and they have to reinforce out wide.

Philippe Coutinho is an Arsenal transfer target (X01398)

"Arsenal have a great advantage that they already have what many clubs are looking for – two world class strikers in Aubameyang and Lacazette. The problem is they have to rebuild everywhere else as the rest of the team is lacking.

"So unless the finances are made available it puts a lot of pressure on the guys they have hired to be able to deliver what they've been brought in to deliver."

One year on and Arsenal are linked with Joorabchian's client Philippe Coutinho.

Stan Kroenke was criticised by the Arsenal fans (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

The midfielder completed a £142million move from Liverpool to Barcelona in 2018, but has fallen down the pecking order at the Nou Camp.

A failed loan spell at Bayern Munich means Coutinho will be moving on this summer and reports claim new boss Mikel Arteta considers him to be a "dream" purchase.

Arteta is reportedly very keen on signing the Brazilian (Action Images via Reuters)

Barcelona are aware more than most they won't recoup the money they spent on the Brazilian, but that doesn't mean to say he will come cheap.

It will therefore be interesting to see whether the Arsenal board take Joorabchian's words on board, to the benefit of the agent.

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