Arsenal are in talks with Kia Joorabchian about a deal for Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

Coutinho is on a season-long loan deal at Bayern Munich but the Bundesliga club have revealed they won't activate the option to make the move permanent.

Le 10 Sport reports Arsenal have made the 27-year-old one of their top transfer targets and opened talks with Joorabchian.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is believed to be a huge admirer of Coutinho, who can play either in an attacking midfield role or as a left sided forward.

It was in those two roles that he rose to prominence at Liverpool, where he spent four seasons before moving on to Barca in a £142 million deal.

Arsenal could face competition for his services from a host of top European clubs, as well as Premier League rivals Chelsea who are also reported to be weighing up a move.