Arsenal can’t afford to sign Denis Suarez on a permanent deal without breaching Financial Fair Play restrictions, according to reports in Spain.

Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Denis Suarez in the last few days, but reports in the Spanish media are now suggesting the Gunners can’t afford a permanent move. Mundo Deportivo write that because of Financial Fair Play, Arsenal “can’t sign anyone in this winter market, and that’s why they want Denis on loan”.

However, Barcelona are looking to sell permanently, so reportedly a possible compromise would be for the Catalan club to loan Arsenal Suarez with a compulsory purchase option at the end of the season.

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.

It certainly seems like a move for the midfielder is on, as he celebrates his 25th birthday today.

Di Marzio claimed this weekend that Suarez is ‘close to joining Arsenal’, reuniting with his former coach. The midfielder seems set to leave Barcelona, after struggling for game time, and will ‘most likely’ move on in the current window. AC Milan and AS Roma also made inquiries, but Arsenal are now ‘in the lead’ for his signature.

Suarez really hasn’t had much 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. Last month, the midfielder responded to exit rumours by telling the Spanish media: “I work to play and I’m not having minutes. If I do not play … we’ll see.”