Unai Emery has admitted Arsenal have no money to spend in the January transfer window and can only pursue loan deals until the summer.

The Gunners head coach is keen to make one or two additions this month – specifically a centre-back and a winger – but the club’s options in the market are restricted by a need to reduce their bloated wage bill.

Arsenal spent £71.4million last summer on five new signings after breaking their club record to land Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for £56m and Emery admitted today that the coffers are bare as he seeks to upgrade his squad.

“We cannot sign permanently,” said the Spaniard. “We can only loan players. Only loan players.”

Talks between the Gunners are Barcelona over a possible move for Denis Suarez have reached an impasse with the Catalan giants demanding a fee in the region of £20million to allow him to leave this month.

Given their financial constraints, Arsenal are eyeing a loan move and Emery added: “I don’t know his situation now. We can only sign players later on. I know the club is working on possibilities of which players can help us with big performances like we need now.”

On links with Ever Banega, whose deal with Sevilla expires in the summer, Emery said: “I know this player and he’s a very good player. I cannot tell you more.”

Arsenal are aiming to trim a bloated wage bill with Aaron Ramsey one of several players set to leave the club at the end of the season. Ramsey is in advanced talks with Juventus but Emery insisted the midfielder is sufficiently focused to be part of the matchday squad for Saturday’s Premier League trip to West Ham.

“My last conversation with him is very important,” said Emery. “We both spoke about the situation with respect from him and from us. His response has been a very good response in training and matches with good performances.

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“I said to you before that I want to see Aaron Ramsey with this focus and these performances when he’s playing. This week for example, he’s been the same. He’s working and training very well with good experience. When I look at every player and they’re training like Aaron is this week, I feel calm ahead of the next match because the players are all focused.”