Arsene Wenger is “99 per cent sure” that Arsenal will not make any last-minute signings in the transfer window – unless Lionel Messi becomes available.
The Gunners brought Mohamed Elneny to north London this month in what has proved to be an otherwise quiet January in the Premier League.
Wenger does not expect to be heavily involved on deadline day but admitted he cannot rule out last-minute deals should exceptional players suddenly become available.
“The whole period was much quieter than I expected,” he told the media. “I’m one of the few who has done more business. I told you we’d do at least one transfer, I’d have been open to one more but there’s a rarity of players on the market.
“A miracle can always happen. I’m 99 per cent sure [of no signings]. If Messi knocks at my door at ten to six, I won’t say ‘please go back to Barcelona’.”
Wenger confirmed Mathieu Debuchy and Serge Gnabry could both still leave on loan deals, with the France international likely to stay in the Premier League and Gnabry poised for a move to the Championship.
“Debuchy is still a possibility but, at the moment, it doesn’t look like it. It’s impossible to conclude a permanent move now,” he said.
“We have to decide today [on Gnabry]. It’s between two Championship clubs. I want to give him some competition because he didn’t play at West Brom.”