Arsenal’s interest in Philippe Coutinho analysed by David Ornstein & when William Saliba could arrive in north London

David Ornstein on Arsenal’s interest in Philippe Coutinho

Yesterday we reported on the transfer rumour spread by Mundo Deportivo, which linked Arsenal with Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho.

Coutinho is currently in limbo as his time at Bayern Munich had basically ended.

The Brazilian midfielder is injured, while Bayern have confirmed they won’t be exercising an option to buy the former Liverpool star.

Currently, Coutinho is poised to return to the Camp Nou. However, Mundo Deportivo suggested the midfielder is an Arsenal target.

On Tuesday, in the latest edition of the ‘Ornstein & Chapman podcast’ from the Athletic (audio below), reporter David Ornstein revealed he hasn’t heard anything to support the Arsenal-Coutinho story:

I have no information on this. I don’t know anything about it. 

So if it is happening, it’s beyond my knowledge. 

That’s not to say it isn’t. It’s just that I don’t know anything about it if it is.  

 

Where has the Arsenal, Coutinho story come from?

David Ornstein also suggested that Coutinho’s representatives could be pushing the transfer story in the media:

We do know the links, which are apparent, between Arsenal’s Raul Sanllehi, their technical director Edu, and Coutinho’s agent Kia Joorabchian.

We’ve seen a number of deals already done between those parties, and that’s, in part, I’m sure, why the links have arisen.

Whether there has been actual contact and conversations around possibly bringing Coutinho in from Barcelona to the Emirates Stadium, I don’t know.

Kia Joorabchian represents Arsenal’s David Luiz and on-loan Southampton defender Cedric Soares.

“I don’t have any preference where the players go. I don’t try to push someone to one club or another.”

Everything is a possibility over player’s future, says agent Kia Joorabchian: https://t.co/5ebfOoqAxz pic.twitter.com/9BTqX33ktg

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 10, 2020

 

When William Saliba could arrive in north London

Another question posed to David Ornstein was the availability of French defender William Saliba.

Arsenal signed 19-year-old Saliba last summer from St Etienne, however the Gunners allowed the centre-half to remain with Les Verts on loan for the current campaign.

However, the French Ligue 1 season is now over. So could Saliba soon turn up at Arsenal’s training ground?

Ornstein noted that even if Saliba does arrive at Arsenal, he’ll be unable to play for the Gunners in the Premier League this season.

Moreover, Ornstein noted that several factors could hold up the player’s move to north London, including the UK quarantine rules during the pandemic, plus the fact that Saliba recently suffered a family bereavement.

Also, Ornstein suggested that Mikel Arteta might not want Saliba to even train with the first team until this current campaign ends.

 

Listen to David Ornstein’s Arsenal updates

Skip to 43:30 minutes in for the Arsenal updates.

 

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