Arsenal are reportedly close to bringing in Denis Suarez from Barcelona. The potential deal is being negotiated in the region of £20 million, but it has been claimed that the Gunners would also be interested in an initial loan deal with an option to buy the player in the summer. Suarez traveled with his teammates to face Getafe on Sunday, but was later scratched from the team sheet prior to the game.

Suarez has struggled to find consistent time on the pitch during his stints with the Spanish giants. Barcelona bought the midfielder from Manchester City in 2013; however, after a season with the B team, he was loaned to Sevilla for the 2014/15 campaign. The manager for Sevilla during that time? Unai Emery. Suarez performed well under the now Arsenal manager in a more attacking role, scoring six goals and adding five assists in all competitions. Emery gave Suarez 24 of his 26 starts that season either as an attacking midfielder or winger.

Barcelona then sold the midfielder to Villarreal for €4 million. However, following a successful season with the Yellow Submarine, Barca elected to bring Suarez back for around €3.25 million. Though he did make 36 overall appearances for the La Liga runners-up during the 2016/17 campaign, Suarez’s time on the pitch has drastically gone down ever since.

So what would the now 25-year-old midfielder bring to Arsenal? Versatility is the first thing that comes to mind. The technically gifted player can be deployed in a wide range of positions: central midfield, left midfield, right midfield, attacking midfield, and both positions out on the flanks. Though some have taken to Twitter to claim that Suarez could potentially displace Mohamed Elneny in the Arsenal team, they are completely different players.

Dribbling and close control are certainly Suarez’s top attributes. Though he does have a tendency to hold on to the ball for too long at times, the midfielder is very good both 1v1 and in space. Decision making would have to improve as well, but consistent time on the pitch would surely help.

Speaking of consistency, Suarez has proven in the past that he can be a solid player if given the right opportunities. Prior to Barca, he racked up 95 first team appearances in two seasons with Sevilla and Villarreal. During these two seasons, Suarez was seemingly on his way to becoming a very reliable La Liga player. Though his playing time has stalled a bit, talent and ability are certainly there for the player.

Suarez has previously visited the Emirates once before. As a Manchester City player, he was named to the bench in City’s 2-0 win against the Gunners nearly six years ago. If a move goes through, Suarez would give Emery another decent option in multiple positions. Although not a high-profile player, the 25-year-old midfielder is entering his prime and a fresh start could very well revive his career.