Arsenal have reportedly asked Barcelona to cover some of Philippe Coutinho’s wages as they look to complete a loan deal for the player with an option to buy next summer.

According to a report in Saturday’s edition of Sport (Spain) Arsenal have found an agreement with Coutinho over the move and all that’s left is to find an agreement with Barcelona and a way to pay Philippe Coutinho’s wages.

I say ‘all’ as if that makes it straightforward when it’s anything but. Arsenal don’t have any money and are actively trying to lower their wage bill at the same time as refreshing their squad without any cash.

That means they are looking at creative ways to get Mikel Arteta the players he wants and needs.

Arsenal are prepared to pay a loan fee for the player but they’d like a hand with his wages which come in at around £240,000-per-week – just £10k less than they are said to be paying Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in his new deal.

Barcelona, however, have no plans to help Arsenal pay the player’s wages and Sport say if he wants to move to Arsenal he has to take a paycut.

Barcelona, they report, ‘do not want to lose a single euro’.

Mundo Deportivo report the same thing.

The same situation reportedly happened last summer when Spurs tried to sign the former Liverpool man on loan, except they were not upfront in asking for help with his wages.

With everything looking like it would go through, Spurs asked the player to take a cut or for Barcelona to help, causing the deal to collapse ‘at the last minute’.

Arsenal’s relationship with Coutinho’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, however, could be key.

Chelsea were considering a move for Coutinho but have decided against it while Spurs are said to be interested again along with Everton. Both those sides, Sport report, are waiting to see what happens between the player and Arsenal.

Sport finish by saying ‘all indications are that Cou will end up in the Premier League.’