Barcelona attacker Philippe Coutinho has been left out of Ronald Koeman's squad for his side's La Liga opener with Real Sociedad on Sunday evening.
The former Liverpool man has not taken to the field in a competitive fixture in 2021 following his serious knee injury last season and continues to be linked with an exit from Camp Nou.
Having now recovered from the issue he sustained in the winter months, Coutinho was available for selection against Sociedad after being an unused substitute in last weekend's Joan Gamper Trophy win over Juventus.
However, Coutinho has earned fresh links to Arsenal in a swap deal involving either Alexandre Lacazette or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and the Brazilian will not feature against Sociedad.
Arsenal are thought to be open to selling both Aubameyang and Lacazette in the summer window, and Barca are supposedly prepared to offer Coutinho to Mikel Arteta's side in a straight swap deal for one of the attackers.
Miralem Pjanic and Samuel Umtiti have also been left out of the squad to face Sociedad alongside Coutinho, who has registered 23 goals and 14 assists in Catalan colours.
Ben Knapton
