INTER MILAN have moved ahead of Arsenal in the race for Barcelona star Rafinha.
The Gunners had the 24-year-old Brazilian on their potential list of midfield reinforcements this month.
But Arsene Wenger will have to look elsewhere as Inter have made a breakthrough in talks with the Catalan giants, according to Goal.
The Serie A side made an initial offer of a loan with a £17.7million option to but next summer that was rejected by Barca.
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A compromise has now been reached and Rafinha is set to be Inter’s second signing of the window following the arrival of defender Lisandro Lopez from Benfica.
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Luciano Spalletti’s side have alarmingly dropped off the pace in the title race and are without a win in their last five league games.
Rafinha, brother of Thiago Alcantara at Bayern Munich has fought his way back to fitness after a serious knee injury.
But the midfielder is now fit, but has not been able to get a single minute of game time this season as Ernesto Valverde’s side cruise to the La Liga title.
He is desperate to get some minutes under his belt to give himself a chance of making the Brazil World Cup squad.