Coutinho poised to join Arsenal on loan - report

Cape Town - Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho is reportedly on the verge of sealing a move to Arsenal on a season-long loan agreement.

L'Equipe journalist Bilel Ghazi claims the Gunners will take Coutinho on loan, ending a nightmare 18 months for the Brazil attacker since his £142 million to Barcelona from Liverpool.

PSG have also been linked with Coutinho, but Arsenal have reportedly won the race for the 27-year-old.

If indeed Coutinho moves to the Emirates, he will join a forward line already bolstered by the £72 million arrival of Nicolas Pepe.

It is hard to fathom how Arsenal can recruit Coutinho without shedding talent from the strike force.

They have received no offers for Mesut Ozil, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan has received similarly little interest.

Arsenal are also in dire need of strengthening their defence, with links persisting over their interest in Dayot Upamecano and Kieran Tierney.