Arsenal sign Denis Suarez on loan from Barcelona but face losing battle in attempts to secure Yannick Carrasco

Arsenal are facing defeat in their ambitious late attempts to sign Yannick Carrasco before the transfer deadline passes. Having completed a loan move for Denis Suarez Arsenal had moved for Carrasco after Inter Milan made it clear they only wanted Ivan Perisic to move on a permanent basis.

Arsenal had continued to negotiate with Inter, with Perisic handing in a transfer request to try and force the move, but did not want to agree to an obligation to buy – they wanted an option – after a loan until the end of this season.

It opened the way for a move for Carrasco who is desperate to leave Chinese club Dalian Yifang and was prepared to take a pay cut to return to Europe.

However although the deal is not dead it is understood that the two clubs are far apart in the level of loan fee for Carrasco and it is not thought likely that a compromise will be reached for the 25-year-old Belgium international before the window closes.

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It was always ambitious of Arsenal to try and secure two big loan deals this window and it may well be that they end up only with Suarez whose move was completed after he flew to London for a medical. The 25-year-old, who can play out wide or through the middle in attacking positions, previously worked with Arsenal manager Unai Emery at Sevilla.

Inter had expressed interest in Carrasco, should Perisic have left for Arsenal, with AC Milan, whose chief executive is Ivan Gazidis, now having opened talks.

Carrasco has spent the past year in China, after making a surprise move from Atletico Madrid, but he and his family have failed to settle. Although his club are prepared to let him go they would prefer to have a replacement lined up first and have been making inquiries – including being rebuffed by Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud. The Chinese transfer market remains open until February 28.