Espanyol are closing on a deal for Inter Milan midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

Coutinho could be leaving Inter in the next few days amid reports of a loan to Espanyol.

The young Brazilian has struggled for playing time at San Siro so far this season and is eager to make his mark ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

He had been linked with a return to his homeland for Corinthians, Sao Paolo or Internacional.