Arsenal transfer news and rumours: Real Madrid's Marcos Llorente targeted, Wilshere addresses future

All the latest transfer news and speculation from the Emirates on Thursday 1 December

Real Madrid's Marcos Llorente (Getty Images)

Real Madrid’s Marcos Llorente is the man in the spotlight on Thursday as the transfer rumour mill gets into full swing ahead of the January window.

Llorente, a 21-year-old midfielder, is drawing admiring glances from across Europe amid predictions of a bright future and is on loan at Deportivo Alaves.

On Thursday, Don Balon reported Arsene Wenger is excited at Llorente’s potential and sees him as a player who could have an impact for a decade at the Emirates.

However, various other sources, including The Daily Telegraph report there is little chance of Llorente leaving Spain as he desperately wants to play for Real Madrid. His father, great uncle and grandfather all played for the club. Llorente has so far made two appearances for Madrid.

Rather more worryingly for Arsenal fans rumours of Mesut Ozil’s impending departure refuse to go away, with the German magician back in the gossip columns on Thursday.

On Wednesday it was reported Ozil is stalling on signing a new Arsenal contract, regrets ever leaving Madrid in the first place and wants a return to the Spanish capital.

Fuel to the fire comes in the form of a report in Metro on Thursday, claiming Arsenal are unwilling to meet Ozil’s £250,000-a-week wage demand. Ozil’s contract expires in 18 months.

Jack Wilshere has addressed his own future and says he wants to earn a new long-term contract at Arsenal.

Wilshere completed his third 90-minute Premier League game of the season against Stoke at the weekend (Getty)

The on-loan Bournemouth midfielder’s deal expires in 2018 and Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has already expressed his desire to keep Wilshere at the Emirates.

Wilshere told Sky Sports: “At the moment I am focussed on performing for Bournemouth and putting myself in a position where Arsenal want to offer me a new contract.”