Transfer News: Denis Suárez set to join Arsenal on loan

Arsenal are on the brink of bringing in Barcelona midfielder Denis Suárez in the January transfer window with an obligation to buy the player in the summer transfer window for £20m according to Italian Journalist Nicola Schira.

The Gunners are only allowed to sign players on loan says manager Unai Emery as the club attempts to tackle an astronomical wage bill as well as offloading dead wood in the squad. I spoke to Spanish football expert Chris (@ElSpanishGooner) on what the signing of Suárez means for the side from North London.

What will be Denis Suarez role at Arsenal?

Chris told me: “First of all, I have to say Denis is a great player, looking at the situation the club is at, and how interested Unai Emery seems to be to add him to the squad I really have doubts on which role will he have at Arsenal, I’d have said he was going to be a squad player, surely a player that will be included in almost every game, either as a sub or as a starter, although Mkhitaryan’s injury and latest form makes me think he could take his spot on the right side, although as a right mid. With Emery going for a 4-3-2-1 or a 4-2-3-1.”

What can Arsenal expect of Denis?

“He is a very good player indeed, he proved so both at Sevilla and Villarreal when he had a long run of games, played a part last season for Barça but sadly hasn’t had any chances this year for Barça, good ball control, great technique driving the ball forward, taking on one or two players, a quality we miss in the squad, maybe Alex Iwobi is the only one to provide Arsenal such options. His physicality worries me, as we all know La Liga isn’t that demanding in that front, but his quality should cover that, also his adaptation shouldn’t be too hard considering he already knows some Arsenal players, Unai’s staff and the fact he also played a part in Manchester City’s youth system.”

Can he replace Aaron Ramsey?

“I don’t think he will be able to replace Ramsey, I mean he’s a good player but we’re talking about an (most likely) Arsenal legend, Arsenal captain and complete midfielder, although the role on the pitch is or should be very different if we take into account Denis past. Quality wise Denis might have a better ball control, better taking on a player but ultimately Ramsey willl always be the better player, far superior physically, with better pass range and shoot technique. Denis is more fitted to the wing, where he can easily take on a player although his intelligence and ability allows he to play as an #8 and a #6, Ramsey might be the better player but ultimately if he doesn’t fit Emery’s system Denis could be a very good option considering both central-midfielder spots have name and surname under Torreira and Xhaka.”

Is it a solid deal for Arsenal?

Lastly I don’t think we could say £20m for him is a great price tag and business for Arsenal, of course all this is debatable, and you could argue with today’s market inflation £20m for a decent player should be considered as good, but from my point of view we’re talking of a player whose contract was running down on 2020, even thoough Barcelona have a clause in his contract where they could extend it for a further year, he admitted his willing to leave, and when clubs like Chelsea, AC Milan or Valencia showed their interest he admitted his only options were either Arsenal or staying at Barça and moving in the summer.”

Arsenal may not have had the upper hand but he’s barely played this season and wasn’t a plan of this year’s Barça’s season, as shows that he played 244 minutes this season. Maybe his price tag has something to do over the fact that the loan won’t have a mandatory clause, that point still hasn’t been answered. I guess if it’s only an option to buy where Arsenal have to pay only £2-3m this January with a purchase option of 20m it won’t be that bad of a business considering we’ll know about his adaptation and performance level over this second part of the season. Hopefully he goes on to be a great and vital part of the team and proves that 20m will be a cheap option to solve some of the many problems Arsenal have right now on the pitch.”

Unai Emery and Suárez previously worked together when both were at Seville. The Arsenal manager confirmed to reporters yesterday that ‘Conversations had taken place’ between the two clubs but did not want to say anymore regarding the matter.