Raul Sanllehi and Barcelona do not have a ‘cordial’ relationship according to Jordi Blanco writing for ESPN but it seems like Arsenal have managed to get their Denis Suarez deal done anyway.

Arsenal are trying to land Denis Suarez for next to nothing in this window while Barcelona want the player to sign a new contract before he leaves in case the Gunners don’t buy him outright in the summer.

Suarez is out of contract in the summer and the Catalans are trying to protect their investment. Suarez, for his part, is said to be unhappy with the modest payrise the new deal offers and can see a free move looming in the summer.

It was reasonable to think that Raul Sanllehi’s history with Barcelona might, perhaps, smooth the way for Arsenal, but of course, things can never be that simple for Arsenal.

“Denis has Arsenal as the main objective but Barça, whose relationship with gunner director Raúl Sanllehí is not exactly cordial, manages other alternatives, mainly from LaLiga and that could open the door to the cession of the Galician footballer despite not concluding a transfer at the end of the course,” Blanco wrote, via Google translate.

Barcelona are, unsurprisingly, said to be willing to negotiate with Guangzhou Evergrande China who are believed to be willing to offer €55m for the player.

Suarez has shown no indication that he would quit European football for China and as the afternoon developed it was being reported in Spain that a deal to send him on loan to Arsenal had been agreed:

NOTICIA @ESPORTSCOPE | Denis Suárez, cedido al Arsenal hasta final de temporada pic.twitter.com/kQyFYnwF7q

— Tiempo de Juego (@tjcope) January 29, 2019

Just when we all thought the deal was dead, it’s suddenly done. Sounds like we got exactly what we wanted too, a loan with an option. Happy with this. https://t.co/0QCRCFD1nm

— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) January 29, 2019

Gerard Romero of RAC1 confirming it’s an option, not an obligation. Perfect.

Hopefully he’ll really push on with us & we won’t need to pull out of buying, but at least we can if we need to.https://t.co/sf34b50iRS

— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) January 29, 2019

Update: Edo Polo, the Mundo Deportivo journalist who wrote the story, has since tweeted that whilst there are still a few details to be sorted, he considers it done.

— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) January 29, 2019