Arsenal head coach Unai Emery insists it has been business as usual with head of recruitment Sven Mislintat despite reports the German is set to depart – and says he still hopes the club can do “something special” during the transfer.
The club have not responded to speculation that Mislintat is due to leave just over a year after being appointed to his role.
Having worked in a similar position at Borussia Dortmund, Mislintat arrived at Arsenal as part of a restructuring job behind the scenes.
But, with the Gunners in a position where they are only able to bring in loan signings in the January window, Mislintat’s future has been cast into doubt.
Emery, however, revealed he has been meeting with Mislintat over recent weeks as planned.
“No, no. Today, for me, the normality is working with him,” he said when asked if there was any possibility of Mislintat leaving.
“I was working with him the last two weeks. We had two or three meetings together and we are working normally. I don’t know another different issue to him.
“When I spoke with him it was all normal. My relationship with him for transfers in the last two or three weeks, we are speaking about that.”
Despite their meetings, any plans to bring in new recruits are hamstrung by the fact there are no transfer funds.
Barcelona’s Denis Suarez and Yannick Carrasco of Dalian Yifang have both been targeted but Emery appeared downbeat on the prospect of any signings in the coming days.
“This transfer window is not easy to take players that can help us with better performances than the players we have now,” he said.
“The club is working and I spoke with Sven, with Raul about different possibilities with players. They are working but it is not easy to take players that can help us with big performances now.
“I think it is more one transfer for something special you need that can help us.
“We are looking, the club is working with the possibility to loan players and if we can take for helping us in a different position on the team, then maybe we can.”