BARCELONA are ready to help out old boy Mikel Arteta – by paying part of Philippe Coutinho’s wages so he can make the move to Arsenal.
The Gunners were poised to pull out of the loan race for Barca star Coutinho, after being put off by his £13million-a-year wage demands.
But now Nou Camp chiefs are ready to help out Arteta, who played for them back in 2000-02, and pay part of his huge salary to push through the move to The Emirates.
The Catalans also want a £10m loan fee.
Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Spurs have also been interested in bringing in the unwanted £145m Brazilian.
Coutinho was on loan at Bayern Munich this season but the Germans, who had a clause to sign him in the summer, pulled out of the race because of the fees involved.
The ex-Liverpool star is on £250,000-a-week wages at the Nou Camp which is why Barca chiefs want him off the books as they deal with their worst financial crisis in a generation.
And they will pay part of that weekly wage to force through another loan year for the South American, claim the Telegraph.
Gunners chiefs simply won’t go that high after already paying crazy £350,000-a-week wages to Mesut Ozil.
Spurs are also unlikely to break their £200,000-a-week barrier.
Jose Mourinho has already said his Tottenham pay chiefs will not go that high for Coutinho.
West Ham and Newcastle are also interested in Coutinho, 28.
Liverpool need another striker as back-up having lost out on Timo Werner.
They are set to lose Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri, while Sadio Mane’s contract is running down and he is wanted by Real Madrid.
But now thanks to Barca’s generosity, Arsenal could once again be in the box seat.
