Barcelona are battling to stop Denis Suarez joining Arsenal this month.

Arsenal are trying to sign the 25-year-old Barcelona midfielder in this window and have sounded out his representatives about a £20million deal.

But Barcelona are making it clear they do not want to sell him this month with Arsenal keen to do a loan deal leading to a permanent switch in the summer.

Suarez is believe to have a buy-out clause which would allow him to leave but Barcelona are adamant they do not want to lose him just yet.

It could be just posturing but Barcelona are currently playing hardball.

(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)

Arsenal boss Unai Emery is keen to bolster his defence with a box-to-box midfielder, winger and defender on his hit-list.

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Suarez, who has been capped once by Spain, is seen as an alternative to Seville’s 30-year-old Ever Banega who was Emery’s long standing target to replace Aaron Ramsey.

Suarez, who spent time earlier in his career at Manchester City, was left out of the Catalans' squad for Sunday night's meeting with Getafe by boss Ernesto Valverde.