Arsenal are now the ‘only possibility’ Denis Suarez is considering this month, but a transfer is being delayed by Barcelona’s recent change in stance.

LEON, SPAIN - OCTOBER 31: Denis Suarez of FC Barcelona in action during the Spanish Copa del Rey match between Cultural Leonesa and FC Barcelona at Estadio Reino de Leon on October 31, 2018 in Leon, Spain. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
LEON, SPAIN – OCTOBER 31: Denis Suarez of FC Barcelona in action during the Spanish Copa del Rey match between Cultural Leonesa and FC Barcelona at Estadio Reino de Leon on October 31, 2018, in Leon, Spain. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo write that Arsenal and Barcelona have already started negotiations, and they’re moving towards a loan deal with a compulsory purchase option at the end of the season. They say Suarez has ruled out joining Chelsea or AC Milan, and Arsenal are now the ‘only possibility’ for him.

Back in England, the Mirror‘s John Cross writes that Barcelona are creating complications for a potential deal. The La Liga side are apparently ‘making it clear’ they don’t want to sell this month, although it’s suggested they could just be ‘posturing’ or ‘playing hardball’.

Suarez apparently has a release clause if all else fails, but ideally, Arsenal wouldn’t want to pay that. They’re pushing for a £20m transfer, according to the Mirror.

Unai Emery admitted on Saturday that Arsenal are looking for a centre-back and a right or left winger in the January transfer window. He then confirmed that Suarez fits this description for him, as he played out wide under the Spanish head coach with Sevilla.

SAN PEDRO DE PINATAR, SPAIN - JULY 19: Denis Suarez of Sevilla in action during a Pre Season Friendly match between Sevilla and Alcorcon at Pinatar Arena Stadium on July 19, 2015 in San Pedro de Pinatar, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
SAN PEDRO DE PINATAR, SPAIN – JULY 19: Denis Suarez of Sevilla in action during a Pre Season Friendly match between Sevilla and Alcorcon at Pinatar Arena Stadium on July 19, 2015 in San Pedro de Pinatar, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)

Di Marzio claimed this weekend that Suarez is ‘close to joining Arsenal’, reuniting with his former coach.

Suarez has struggled for game time this season. By the start of December, he’d only made one start and one substitute appearance in all competitions. Things got a bit better last month, as he scored two goals in a Copa Del Rey start, then made three further substitute appearances in La Liga and the Champions League.

Nonetheless, that still only adds up to 221 minutes of football across the entire campaign. The midfielder was supposed to be in Barcelona’s squad on Sunday, but he was pulled out at the last minute, with suggestions the club didn’t want to risk him ahead of a transfer. We’ll see if that’s the real reason.