Arsenal have reportedly opened talks with the agent of Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho ahead of launching a bid this summer.
Coutinho is on a season-long loan deal at Bayern Munich but the Bundesliga club have revealed they won't activate the option to make the move permanent.
That means the Brazilian will return to Barcelona at the end of the season, where he appears unlikely to regain a place in the starting XI.
Coutinho moved to the Nou Camp from Liverpool three years ago but has failed to secure regular first team football and looks set to leave this summer.