Arsenal’s links to wantaway forward Joao Felix on loan have left journalist Charles Watts confused over the pursuit.

The Lowdown: Felix on the move

It was reported at the start of December that Felix would be allowed to leave Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window.

Despite starting just six La Liga games, the Portuguese has bagged three assists and scored four goals in his last three league outings.

But a fractious relationship with Diego Simeone and the belief that his pragmatic system is hindering Felix’s creative ability has led to the 23-year-old being open to leaving for pastures new until the end of the season at least - potentially in the Premier League.

The Latest: Arsenal’s openness

With a star as gifted as Felix coming on the market, it has unsurprisingly piqued the Gunners’ interest, and amid their strong league position, they have been touted with a short-term move to aid their title pursuit.

However, Watts claimed on his YouTube channel that a deal doesn’t fit Arsenal’s vision after it transpired that any potential deal would likely be a loan switch.

He said: "For Arsenal, for [Manchester] United, for Chelsea even, he would be an attractive option because he’s a very, very good player, clearly.

"But it all just depends on which club is going to be willing to put down the sort of money that Atletico are asking for Felix to effectively just borrow him on loan, because it doesn’t seem like there’s going to be any sort of obligation to buy at the end of that.

"So it’s basically just borrowing him for however much money Atletico are demanding, and it appears that’s an awful lot of money at the moment."

The Verdict: Only as backup

Arsenal have so far under Mikel Arteta stuck to their vision, with every transfer meticulously weighed up with regard to how it would affect the squad.

Arguably, the only transfers that have failed under the Spaniard are Alex Runarsson and Nuno Tavares - both of whom are currently out on loan. And considering the amount of money spent in recent years, Edu's hit-rate in the transfer market isn't too shabby.

Mykhaylo Mudryk fits the philosophy of youthful exuberance up front, and although he’s incredibly talented now - with him bagging 10 goals and eight assists so far this campaign - at only 21, he’s set to blossom in at a top side for years to come.

But Felix doesn’t offer a long-term plan, with Atleti still unsure of whether he has a future at the club, which may yet come under a new manager, meaning he’ll only likely be a late alternative in the window if Mudryk’s deal fails and Arteta is desperate for attacking cover over the second half of the season.