Arsenal manager Unai Emery has confirmed the club can only afford loan signings this month and is targeting La Liga duo Ever Banega and Denis Suarez, claims The Daily Telegraph.
The Gunners are strapped for cash and keen to reduce their escalating wage bill after handing Mesut Ozil a remarkable deal worth in excess of £300,000-a-week 12 months ago, as well as making Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a club-record signing.
Emery is still keen to bolster his squad this month and Arsenal have been heavily linked with a January move for Barcelona outcast Suarez, who previously worked with Emery at Sevilla.
Suarez is free to leave Barcelona after making no impact at the club following his return in 2016 but Arsenal are hoping to sign him on a loan deal with a view to making it permanent in the summer.
The 25-year-old has only made four substitute appearances across league and European competition this season but has a poor pass success rate of 71% in that time.
Arsenal are reportedly also pondering a move to reunite Emery with Sevilla creative maestro Ever Banega, who tore Manchester United to shreds in last season’s Champions League knockout stage.
Emery helped Banega discover his best form during their time at Sevilla and the Arsenal manager is interested in bringing the 30-year-old to the Emirates this month.
Since the start of last season, Banega is one of just four players to have registered at least 100 key passes in La Liga.
