Transfer news: Arsenal eye £8m deal for Auxerre striker Paul-Georges Ntep as Salomon Kalou stays at Lille

Arsenal looking into their options as injuries force their hand

Auxerre's Paul-Georges Ntep (Getty Images)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has sounded out a move for Auxerre striker Paul-Georges Ntep after injuries forced his hand in the January transfer window.

Wenger is keen to avoid a major outlay this month, preferring to do most of his business in the summer, but is in urgent need of attacking cover after Olivier Giroud, Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott were all ruled out.

The Ligue 2 side are reportedly aware of the Gunners' interest and have placed an £8m price on Ntep's head but Wenger is confident of negotiating the deal down.

German side Borussia Moenchengladbach are also interested in the 21-year-old though and are currently favourites to land the France Under-21 star.

The Gunners could also miss out on another of their winter targets with reports emanating from Lille that former Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou is going nowhere.

Arsenal and Liverpool had been keen on giving him a route back into English football, but his club president Michel Seydoux has dismissed the reports.

"It's only gossip," he told Eurosport. "I'll tell you two things: No English club have contacted me about Kalou and, anyway, we are not going to sell.

"Kalou will not leave the club this winter."