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Arsenal transfer news: Arsene Wenger eyes Jason Denayer and Mattias Ginter, Gonzalo Higuain to cost £79m

The latest transfer news and speculation surrounding the Emirates

Jack de Menezes

Tuesday 19 July 2016 08:56 BST

Matthias Ginter is a £12m target for Arsenal (Getty)

Arsenal could make a surprise move for Manchester City defender Jason Denayer as well as Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Ginter as Arsene Wenger looks to target new defensive options for the future, with both players under 22 years of age.

The Gunners are being linked with the double-move to take their tally of summer signings to four, having already landed Switzerland international Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach and Takuma Asano from Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Arsenal do appear short on options at the back, with both Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny being hit with injuries last season and Gabriel Paulista failing to impress as a Premier League title-challenging defender.

According to The Sun, Wenger is ready to sanction £22m to be spent on Denayer and Ginter in £10m and £12m deals respectively. It’s added that Arsenal are hoping to capitalise on City’s interest in Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci in the hope that new manager Pep Guardiola will allow Belgium international Denayer to leave.

The 21-year-old is looking to leave City – either temporarily or on a permanent deal – to seek more first-team football, as he endured a nightmare Euro 2016 in which he was at fault for Hal Robson-Kanu’s brilliant goal in Wales’s 3-1 quarter-final win over Belgium.

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Show all 12

1/12Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Alexandre Lacazette

The Frenchman scored 21 goals for Ligue 1 side Lyon last season and has since emerged as hot property within the European market. West Ham have already had their two offers for the 25-year-old rejected and Arsenal were reported to have joined the race for his signature. But despite indications that they were prepared to pay the £34.2m fee that will trigger talks with the player, Lyon club president recently revealed that the Gunners have yet to make a bid for the forward. Could Arsenal be biding their time?

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Ricardo Rodriguez

The Wolfsburg left-back has said he expects to leave the club this summer and that it would be “exciting” to join Switzerland teammate Granit Xhaka at Arsenal. Rodriguez, 23, has a €25 million release clause in his contract and the Gunners have recently been tipped as forerunners to sign the Swiss defender.

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Julian Draxler

According to recent reports, Arsenal launched a £43m bid for the German player as speculation continues to mount about his future at Wolfsburg. The Gunners are looking to bolster their striking options to aid striker Olivier Giroud and Arsene Wenger is known to be an admirer of Draxler, having targeted the winger last summer. The former Schalke star scored ten goals last season since his move to the Volkswagen Arena.

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Nevan Subotic

With many urging coach Arsene Wenger to bring in a new centre-back, Borussia Dortmund’s Neven Subotic could be the answer. The 27-year-old has only made six appearances in the Bundesliga for Dortmund this past season and has reportedly been given permission to miss training in order to discuss his future. Costing an expected £14m, Arsenal are reportedly contemplating making a move for the player in what would be a fantastic bit of business given his quality and relatively low price-tag.

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Romelu Lukaku

The Belgium international looks destined to leave Goodison Park this summer after stating his desire to play Champions League football next season. Arsenal could be the club to offer him that as Arsene Wenger continues to search for a striker having been snubbed by Leicester’s Jamie Vardy. Ray Parlour urged his former club to sign the forward, arguing that the side needs “someone of the calibre of a Sergio Aguero or a Luis Suarez.” The Emirates hierarchy is reportedly keen on bringing in him but Everton’s £50m price-tag could prove to be a sticking point.

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Alvaro Morata

Arsenal were one of the many sides linked to Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata after the Spaniard recently returned to the Bernabeu. Reports seemed to suggest that Real Madrid had brought back the striker in order to sell him on for a profit and Arsenal had emerged as favourites at one point to sign him. However, valued at around £65m, the striker may prove out of Wenger’s price range while other reports suggest Madrid will now be keeping hold of the striker.

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

N’Golo Kante

After failing to prise Jamie Vardy away from the King Power Stadium, Arsene Wenger seems to have turned his attention to another Leicester City gem. The French manager has publicly praised his fellow countryman in recent weeks, describing him as “One of the revelations of the French team”. Whether Gunners decide to make a formal bid for the 25-year-old remains to be seen but there’s no doubting the midfield dynamo would slot nicely into the Arsenal outfit.

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Gonzalo Higuain

The former Real Madrid striker has been repeatedly linked with a move to north London but the transfer has failed to materialise in the past. In an encouraging turn of events for fans, Higuain’s agent has allegedly made contact with Arsenal who are potentially interested in trying again to bring the Argentinian to the Emirates. Higuain scored 36 Serie A goals in 35 appearances for Napoli last season, breaking a league record in the process. The striker would be the perfect addition to Arsenal’s front-line.

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Moussa Sissoko

After impressing at Euro 2016 for France, Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko has been linked with a move away from the Teesside club to the Emirates. The 26-year-old failed to prevent Newcastle from slipping into the Championship last season and was subject to widespread criticism for his underwhelming performances. But after finding his form in France, Arsenal have now emerged as favourites to sign the £35m-rated midfielder.

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Stevan Jovetic

A number of British and foreign media outlets have linked Inter Milan’s Stevan Jovetic with a move to the Emirates this summer. Reports suggest the forward won’t be a part of Roberto Mancini’s plans at the San Siro despite joining the club on a permanent basis with the club following an 18-month loan stint in Milan. Following a flurry of rumours mid-June, Arsenal’s links to Jovetic have dropped off somewhat in recent weeks.

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Arda Turan

Barcelona are reportedly willing to offload midfield misfit Arda Turan for as little as £23m this summer. Turan has underwhelmed for the Catalan giants who are apparently looking to cut their losses on the Turkey international. According to Marca, Arsenal may be prepared to take the midfielder, who spent much of last season largely on the bench, off Barcelona’s hands.

Arsenal's summer transfer targets for 2016/17

Antoine Griezmann

Questionable this one, admittedly, but there have been some whispers on the grape vine. The Arsenal boss was spotted chatting to the Frenchman during Sunday night’s final but, given the context, it’s hard to imagine Wenger was attempting to persuade the player to move to Arsenal. The chances of Griezmann making the switch are, well, pretty slim. The Atletico Madrid player is committed to the club until 2021 and rumours suggest he has a release clause set at €100m. There’s no harm in dreaming, though.

Wenger is said to have bid for Denayer last summer, but saw a £5m bid rejected and the former Anderlecht academy defender went on to sign a new contract on wages of around £25,000-a-week.

Ginter meanwhile has been on Wenger radar since his days at Freiburg, and the 21-year-old has represented Germany on nine occasions since making his debut shortly before the 2014 World Cup. While Ginter was a part of the Germany side that became world champions that year, he failed to make a single appearance for his country in Brazil and was not selected for the Euro 2016 campaign.

 Jason Denayer is a £10m target for Arsenal should he leave City (Getty)

The possible move for Gonzalo Higuain looks increasingly more unlikely after Napoli demanded €94m [£78.5m] after club president Aurelio de Laurentiis confirmed they are not interested in selling the striker and any interested clubs will need to activate his release clause.

Summer 2016 Transfer Window - Done deals and rumours

The warning is believed to be enough to put Juventus off a move for the Argentine, with the outspoken De Laurentiis claiming there was never any talks between the two Italian clubs.

"There was never any contact between Juventus and Napoli for Higuain," he said.

 Gonzalo Higuain will not leave Napoli for anything less than £78.5m  (Getty)

"[Juventus general manager Giuseppe] Marotta confirmed to me today that Juve had no intentions of meeting his buy-out.

“I asked Marotta if he wanted to discuss the clause, but he assured me that it had not even crossed his mind."

He added: "No club has made an offer, nor has Higuain told us that he wants to leave.

"It is time to stop with this whole world of crap and apologise to the supporters who have been left upset by these reports."

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has confirmed the club have no interest in selling Gonzalo Higuain (Getty)

Another centre-back who looks to be on their way to Arsenal is Bolton Wanderers youngster Rob Holding. The 20-year-old is believed to have undergone a medical with the Gunners on Monday evening, according to Bolton News, and it’s claimed that Arsenal’s second offer of £2.5m has been accepted by the League One club.

Holding has represented England Under-21s twice after being drafted into Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Toulon Tournament earlier this year as a replacement for Everton’s Brendan Galloway, and has made 26 league appearances for Bolton after breaking into the first team last season.

One transfer has been confirmed by Arsenal though as Brazilian striker Wellington Silva left the club to rejoin Fluminense after a six-year spell in which he failed to make a single senior appearance. Arsenal were unable to obtain a work permit for Silva in his first five years in London, meaning loan spells with Levante, Alcoyano, Ponferradina, Murcia and Almeria kept him fit before finally receiving clearance to play for Arsenal at the start of last season.

Wellington Silva has left Arsenal after failing to make a single appearance in six years (Getty)

However, Silva instead went on loan to Bolton Wanderers for the season where he was limited to 22 Championship appearances due to a torn hamstring, and he has cut his losses to return to his homeland with Fluminense.

"I am very happy,” Silva said after completing the move. “I want to thank Fluminense for this opportunity after so long to go back, I'm eager to start. I am very anxious, really it is like the first time.

"[My] Desire to return has always existed. When I learned that it was possible I was nervous for 10 days. I am very happy and I have no words to thank. Now I have to train and get on to the field as quickly as possible."

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