Philippe Coutinho's agent urged Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke to make transfer funds available last summer
Arsenal have been linked with a move for former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho in recent days, with some reports even suggesting talks have already begun.
The Brazilian looks likely to leave Barcelona when he returns from his loan spell with Bayern Munich at the end of the season, though it remains to be seen whether the Gunners would be able to finance a permanent deal.
But it’s not only Arsenal fans who might despair if a lack of funds cost Mikel Arteta the chance to sign the 27-year-old this summer.
A year ago, it was Coutinho’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, who was urging owner Stan Kroenke to make more money available for then manager Unai Emery to bolster his squad.
“I feel for the guys that have just come in – Raul [Sanllehi – head of football] and Edu and [former manager] Unai Emery,” he told talkSPORT last summer.
“I feel for them because we have finally got incredibly knowledgeable footballing people there.
“Raul came in from Barcelona, Edu came from the Brazil national team and is an legend at Arsenal, and Emery is a fantastic coach who has coached at Sevilla and PSG.
“Finally Arsenal have people who really understand football and are footballing people in the back room staff, but the question is whether or not the finances will be made available.
“If you don’t make the finances available, there is no big secret. If you cannot buy some strong players… they have to reinforce in defence, they have to reinforce in midfield and they have to reinforce out wide.
“Arsenal have a great advantage that they already have what many clubs are looking for – two world class strikers in Aubameyang and Lacazette. The problem is they have to rebuild everywhere else as the rest of the team is lacking.
“So unless the finances are made available it puts a lot of pressure on the guys they have hired to be able to deliver what they’ve been brought in to deliver.”
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