Arsenal not interested in Coutinho – Emery

Arsenal boss Unai Emery has dismissed reports suggesting the London outfit are looking to sign Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

The former Liverpool man has been linked with a loan move to the Gunners, with his future at the Camp Nou far from assured.

Coutinho quit the Reds in January 2018 to join Barcelona in a deal worth up to £142million, but the Brazil playmaker has struggled to make an impact at the Nou Camp and has also been linked with a move to PSG and a return to Anfield.

His agent Kia Joorabchian recently responded to the Liverpool rumours on talkSPORT, stating: “I don’t know about those stories.

“Bartomeu was very clear with me, saying he doesn’t want the player to leave and he has a future there.”

According to Arsenal boss Emery though, Coutinho was never on their radar.

“We’ve never talked about Coutinho,” Emery told Cadena SER after the 2-1 friendly defeat to Barcelona. “He’s a splendid player, but we haven’t talked about Coutinho at any time.”

Emery has added Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos on a season-long loan, though, and he climbed off the bench against Barca on Sunday.

“Dani comes to contribute his qualities,” added Emery. “What I like most is the desire he is putting in and the hunger with which he comes.

“We will try to help him take a step forward as soccer player.”