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Arsenal transfer news and rumours: Gunners want £16m-rated Ilkay Gundogan, Arsene Wenger hits back at Lukas Podolski jibe

The latest transfer news and rumours surrounding the Emirates

Jack de Menezes

Friday 09 January 2015 12:02 GMT

Ilkay Gundogan is a transfer target for Arsenal (Getty Images)

ARRIVALS…

Arsene Wenger has reiterated his desire to sign a defensive midfielder during the January transfer window, and one man who could fulfil that role is Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan. The Germany international is out of contract in 18-months’ time and German media claim he is not willing to extend his stay at the Signal Iduna Park. The Mirror reports that the Gunners are ready to launch a bid for him this month that could cost up to £16m, and would add significant talent to an area of great concern.

LIVE: Friday's latest transfer news and rumours

However, Arsenal have managed to sign their first player of the transfer window – which comes in the dorm of former Chelsea captain Denis Wise’s 15-year-old son Henry. The Daily Mail reports that Wise left QPR’s academy to join their London rivals, despite his father’s obvious links with the Blues.

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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HEADING FOR THE EXIT…

Yaya Sanogo will definitely leave the club this month on loan, but it will not be to French side Bordeaux after their deadline for a deal to be done expired on Wednesday. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Wenger said: “He will go out on loan. My preference is a Premier League club.” Both Hull and Crystal Palace have been linked with a move to strengthen their ailing attacks, while Aston Villa, Swansea, Stoke and Everton have all reportedly shown interests.

TWISTS…

Lukas Podolski has labelled Wenger “disrespectful” following his loan move to Inter Milan after being frozen out of the first-team this season. Podolski scored twice in a rare outing against Galatasaray in the Champions League group stage, but was not given another chance to impress and ended up moving to Italy for the rest of the season.

Podolski sealed a loan move to Inter Milan earlier this month (GETTY IMAGES)

However, Wenger has responded by claiming Podolski had not had any chances to impress due to the better options Wenger had in attack. He said: “I had many conversations with him about going on loan, and remember, he needed my agreement go out on loan. He just didn’t get enough opportunities to play. We have many players who can play in his position. Only 11 can start. When a player of his quality doesn’t get enough games, at some stage too much competition is detrimental to the player’s positiveness. It has nothing to do with his quality, there were just too many players in the same area.”

Wenger ruled out moves for two players that have been linked with a move to the Emirates in January. Firstly, he confirmed that he is not in the market for another goalkeeper despite the prospect of signing Chelsea’s Petr Cech becoming increasingly likely. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Wenger said: “Cech is at Chelsea, we already have three goalkeepers who for me are top class. There’s big competition going on here; I have no doubt that we already have the needed quality.”

The 65-year-old Frenchman also ruled out a mega-money move for Real Madrid midfielder Isco. Reports had linked the club with a staggering £64m bid for the midfielder, but Wenger confirmed: “We have plenty of creative players here; we are short on the defensive side but not offensively. I’ve already spoken about Podolski and Sanogo leaving on loan [to get more game time]; we wouldn’t buy somebody else in attack.”

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