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Arsenal transfer news and rumours: Arsene Wenger prepares £25m William Carvalho bid; Moussa Sissoko wants Gunners switch

The latest transfer news and rumours surrounding the Emirates

Jack de Menezes

Monday 12 January 2015 10:24 GMT

William Carvalho (GETTY IMAGES)

ARSENAL ARRIVALS…

Arsenal are being linked with a January move for Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho with a reported £25m offer being considered by Arsene Wenger. The Gunners manager has openly revealed that he is in the market for a defensive midfield target, with enough players capable of fulfilling the more attacking roles in his side. Carvalho has been on the Arsenal radar for some time but Wenger is yet to make a move, although the reports that the Frenchman is finally ready to make a move in order to beat Chelsea and Manchester United to the talented 22-year-old.

Monday's transfer talk: Messi speaks out on rumours

Carvalho also offers cover at centre-back where Arsenal have proven to be weak this season, and he would certainly strengthen the current squad given their lack of options in the holding role in midfield. Francis Coquelin has been deployed in the role in recent matches having returned from a loan spell at Charlton last month, but Carvalho would certainly be a more adequate option given Wenger’s aspirations of still challenging for the Premier League title.

Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

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1/17Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Ilkay Gundogan

The Germany international is out of contract in 18 months with Borussia Dortmund, and while he is thankful for their support during a long-term injury and subsequent recovery, he will not be signing an extension. That could see the Bundesliga club allow him to leave in order to cash in on his worth, and Arsenal are believed to be preparing a £16m offer to test the German club's resolve.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Ron Vlaar

The Aston Villa captain is out of contract at the end of the season, but his impressive form at the start of this campaign helped Villa get off to a promising start. Paul Lambert remains hopeful of agreeing a new contract with Vlaar to avoid losing him on a free in the summer. The 29-year-old would bring a wealth of experience to the Gunners defence along with a certain calibre, having started all seven of the Netherlands’ World Cup matches in Brazil.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Loic Perrin

Wenger is reportedly interested in Saint Etienne captain Loic Perrin. The French defender, 29, can also play in defensive midfield and at a price of around £6m would allow Wenger to chase other, bigger name defensive options.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Virgil van Dijk

The Celtic defender has emerged as a leading candidate to join Arsenal in January with a £7m offer said to be lined up by the Gunners. Wenger’s admission that they could not add another player in the summer means that they are likely to sign a defender, and the belief is that Wenger attempted to sign Van Dijk on transfer deadline day only to fail in his last-minute pursuit.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Winston Reid

The West Ham defender has been impressive this term and would offer a cheap, if uninspiring choice at centre-back. With his contract expiring in the summer, he could be available for around £4m in January. A possible swap deal with Carl Jenkinson has also been mooted.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Mats Hummels

Borussia Dortmund’s talented centre-back is one of the most sought-after players in Europe with both Manchester United and Barcelona interested in his services. Arsenal emerged as a shock potential destination though, with the Gunners rumoured to be willing to pay up to £32m for Hummels, who has suggested that this could be his final season with Dortmund.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Morgan Schneiderlin

The Frenchman accepted that he would not be leaving Southampton in the summer and flourished as a result, with Saints flying high in the Premier League. However, Schneiderlin will look to leave the south coast club come the end of the season with Tottenham likely to be the favoured destination to link up with his former manager Mauricio Pochettino, but Arsenal could look to hijack any deal and get one over their North London rivals. Schneiderlin would suit the Gunners playing style, and he certainly has the quality to fit in the current Arsenal first-team – just look at his record over the past two seasons compared to Mikel Arteta and you’d suggest there is only one winner.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Edinson Cavani

Cavani has spoken of his desire to move to the Premier league and Arsenal have been identified as a potential destination. The Uruguayan would not come cheap, given that PSG signed him from Napoli for £53m. A January move would be difficult with PSG still in the Champions League.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Nabil Fekir

French youngster Nabil Fekir has impressed with Lyon this term, scoring goals at a decent return. His father has said that if he leaves the French side, Arsenal would be his preferred destination, despite rumours of interest from Manchester City.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Julian Draxler

Draxler was a name that was heavily linked during last season’s January transfer window, but any hope of a move appeared to be dashed when he suffered a drop in form that nearly cost him his World Cup place in the Germany squad. Despite that, Arsenal are reportedly still interested.

Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

William Carvalho

Arsenal have held talks with Sporting Lisbon before but have so far been unsuccessful in their attempts to sign the holding midfielder. It's reported that Arsene Wenger has renewed hope of landing the 22-year-old Portugal international due to Sporting Lisbon's elimination from the Champions League at the group stage and is preparing a £25m bid.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Chris Smalling

The England international was discussed by Arsenal when Thomas Vermaelen was linked with a move to Manchester United. Vermaelen went to Barcelona instead but Arsenal are thought to retain that interest in Smalling, despite some questionable performances this season.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Yohan Cabaye

Arsenal failed with an audacious £10m bid for the Frenchman last year, and he eventually returned home to join PSG in a deal worth in excess of £20m after three years with Newcastle. However, Cabaye has found himself on the fringes of the first-team in Paris, with Marco Veratti, Blaise Matuidi and Thiago Motta favoured in a three-man midfield. Arsenal are still believed to be interested in his services, and a return to the Premier League may not be that far-fetched.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Sami Khedira

Linked with just about every major club in Europe in the summer, Khedira ended up staying at Real Madrid. He's made very few appearances this term and with his contract up in the summer, the Champions League holders may opt to make a few bucks by selling the World Cup winner. Arsenal would be very keen.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Christoph Kramer

If Arsenal can't land Khedira, there is another German midfielder of interest. Christoph Kramer, who is on a long-term loan with Borussia Monchengladbach from Bayer Leverkusen has indicated his interest in moving to the Premier League. Arsenal have been linked with a £20m move.

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Paulo Dybala

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Palermo striker Paulo Dybala. The 21-year-old has been banging in the goals in Serie A this term, leading to speculation he's in line for a big move. But the Palermo president has indicated he won't be allowed to leave for anything less that £31m

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Arsenal: Players linked with a move to the Emirates during the latest transfer window

Paul Pogba

The French midfielder is believed to be attracting attention from the Emirates regarding a possible £40m move, and would fill the holding role that has hindered the Gunners for years.

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Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko continues to link himself with a move to the Emirates after telling French TV that Arsenal are “the club of his heart”. The Magpies star has been rumoured with a St James’ Park exit this month, although Paris St-Germain have confirmed they are not in the running for his signature. Despite insisting that he remains committed to Newcastle, Sissoko did address talk of a switch to a Champions League club. He told Telefoot: “If anything should happen, it will. I hope I’ll leave for a bigger club one day. England is my priority. If Arsene Wenger calls, I’ll have a man-to-man discussion with him and then we’ll see. Arsenal has always been the club of my heart.”

Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton made the surprise announcement that he believes the Gunners should sign Everton defender John Stones in order to give themselves a ‘Plan B’. Barton feels their desire to always play “pretty football” is costing them in the big games, and feels that 20-year-old Stones would add quality to their squad as well as a fresh approach. He said on Match of the Day 2 Extra: “If you look at Arsenal and the style they play, surely they are looking at John Stones for Everton. He fits their model.”

HEADING FOR THE EXIT…

Crystal Palace’s loan move for Yaya Sanogo looks set to go through this week after new manager Alan Pardew confirmed there will be no move for Liverpool’s Rickie Lambert. Sanogo will leave Arsenal on a short-term deal this month after Wenger revealed his desire to send him out to another Premier League club in order to play more first-team football than he is currently being afforded. Pardew has made no secret that he wants to strengthen his attacking options, which currently consists of Dwight Gayle, Glenn Murray, Frazier Campbell and former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh.

Sanogo looks to be on his way to Crystal Palace (Getty Images)

Young forward Benik Afobe looks to be heading to the Championship after Wolves fended off competition from Huddersfield to land the 21-year-old striker on a permanent deal, subject to a medical. Afobe has been on loan with MK Dons this season, but it appears that move will be cut short as the Gunners have decided to sell him this month. Wolves manager Kenny Jackett said: “We have agreed a fee with Arsenal for Benik Afobe and he is undergoing a medical this weekend. We are working towards concluding that early next week. I watched him come through at Arsenal and watched his progress to this time. We feel, at 21, he fits into the bracket that we are looking for that we feel can improve us.”

Debuchy suffered a dislocated shoulder in this clash with Arnautovic

DILEMMAS…

Wenger may be forced to bring in more than one defender this month after Mathieu Debuchy suffered a dislocated shoulder in the 3-0 win over Stoke on Sunday. Debuchy has already missed three months this season with an ankle injury, and he will certainly miss this weekend’s crucial trip to Manchester City after he was pushed to the ground by Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic.

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