Arsenal are closing in on the loan signing of Philippe Coutinho, according to reports.

However, French football journalist Julien Laurens insists the Gunners have never been in for the Brazil international.

Coutinho, who has struggled at the Camp Nou following his £146-million move in January 2018, has been heavily linked with a move to PSG in recent weeks.

With the 27-year-old under contract at the Camp Nou until 2023, a permanent exit was always unlikely this summer.

However, L’Equipe reports that he has agreed to a deal to join Arsenal on a season-long loan, with head of football Raul Sanllehi thought to have been pivotal in convincing his former employers to agree to the move.

Yet Laurens claims that the rumours are false and that the attacking midfielder has never been on Arsenal’s radar, with the north Londoners focused on recruiting a new centre back instead.