Arsenal transfer news: Unai Emery reveals plans for January window

The Spaniard won't be handed funds for any permanent transfers this month

Unai Emery has admitted that Arsenal are unable to make any permanent signings in the January transfer window because the club do not have any money to spend on new players. Instead, only loan deals are a possibility.

Arsenal have been repeatedly linked with Barcelona’s Denis Suárez and Sevilla’s Éver Banega in recent weeks, with Emery keen on strengthening the club’s midfield ahead of a challenging run of fixtures.

But if Arsenal are to recruit either player it will only be on a short-term deal.

“We cannot sign permanently,” Emery said. “We can only loan players. Only loan players.”

Arsenal’s decision not to sign any players this winter makes a deal for Suárez much more difficult. Barcelona are open to the idea of the 25-year-old leaving the club but would rather his £20m release clause was activated, rather than a cut-price loan deal.

“I don’t know [Suárez’s] situation now,” Emery added. “We can only sign players later on. I know the club is working on possibilities of which players can help us with big performances like we need now.

“I know [Suárez and Banega] player and they are very good players.”

Emery also appeared to concede that Aaron Ramsey was in the final stages of negotiating a move away from Arsenal when he said he will “respect” any decision the Welshman makes on his future.

Ramsey is now in the final stages of agreeing a five-year deal with Juventus worth £36m and will join the Italian champions on a free transfer at the end of the season.

He has been discussing a move ever since Arsenal pulled out of talks to renew his contract and will leave the Emirates after 10 years at the club.

“It’s an individual situation rather than the team,” Emery said. “My idea and focus, I say to him every day, is that we need his performance for us. In the last match I was very happy with him. I asked in the last match at Blackpool if he is okay to help us play and he said, 'Yeah, coach, I want to play" and he played with a very big behaviour and commitment to us.

Suarez is one of those being considered by Arsenal (Getty Images)

“After, his future belongs to him, his family and agent. Every day he’s here with us, he’s working very well. I want his behaviour and his focus to be on West Ham on Saturday.

“The most important thing is that Ramsey is with us. His future I respect a lot because he has a very private decision but he is with us every day, and I repeat that I am very happy with him.”