Arsenal to dump Denis Suarez after six dreadful sub appearances and send on-loan midfielder back to Barcelona

ARSENAL are set to send Denis Suarez back to Barcelona and are already looking at alternative signings for the summer.

The Spanish international, 25, has struggled to impress Unai Emery since arriving at the Emirates on loan in January with a view to a permanent £18million move.

Suarez has yet to start a single game and has failed to make a mark during his six substitute appearances so far.

Emery wants to give Suarez every chance to adapt to the Premier League but believes the player is struggling to cope with the physical demands of English football.

Arsenal are currently in Dubai for a week of warm weather training and will face Saudi club Al Nasr in a friendly on Thursday.

But Emery is already planning for the summer and is stepping up his interest in PSG winger Christopher Nkunku.

The France Under-21s international impressed Emery during his two seasons in charge at the Parc des Princes and is likely to become available this summer.

Arsenal tried to sign 21-year-old Nkunku on loan in January but couldn’t agree a deal with the French Champions and signed Suarez instead.

Call me Ismaila

Club officials have also held talks with Rennes about the possibility of signing Senegalese international Ismaila Sarr.

Sarr ripped Arsenal’s defence apart with his speed and scored his team’s third goal in their 3-1 Europa League win in Rennes earlier this month,

And though he was not as prominent in last week’s return leg when Arsenal won 3-0 at the Emirates, he is still high on Arsenal’s hit-list.

Rennes paid £17m to sign Sarr from Metz two years ago and are likely to demand at least £25m from Arsenal, which could put him out of reach.

Arsenal are also leading the scramble for 17-year-old Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli, who has been regularly monitored by the club’s South American scouts with a view to an £8m move.

Martinelli currently plays in the Brazilian fourth division for Ituano but has already had a trial with Manchester United and is certain to be on the move this summer, with Watford and Crystal Palace also keen.

The Gunners have also been offered the chance to sign Portuguese international winger Gelson Martins, who walked out of Sporting Lisbon last year after being threatened by supporters at the club’s training ground.

Martins, 23, signed for Atletico Madrid but the Spanish club have yet to agree a compensation fee with Sporting and have since loaned Martins to Monaco.