Transfer talk: Mats Hummels to Manchester United, Christophe Kramer and Nabil Fekir to Arsenal, Saido Berahino to Spurs

Transfer talk: A look at the latest news, gossip and rumours on Monday 22 December

Mats Hummels, Christophe Kramer, Lars Bender and Saido Berahino (Getty Images)

Manchester United have been given the biggest sign yet that Mats Hummels is ready to leave Borussia Dortmund after he labelled their 2-1 defeat to Werder Bremen “pathetic”.

United are likely to strengthen their defence in January given the alarming string of injuries they have received at the back this season, and World Cup winner Hummels has been scouted out as the potential solution to their problems. The Germany international has long been linked with an exit from the club, though he would cost in excess of £45m.

Hummel’s Germany team-mate Christophe Kramer is a reported transfer target for Arsenal, with the Daily Mail suggesting that they could launch a £20m move for the midfielder next month. Arsene Wenger has reluctantly accepted that the Gunners have serious problems in their defence and the holding midfield role, and Kramer could be the solution despite Bayer Leverkusen’s reluctance to sell him.

Interest in Kramer comes after reports from various outlets linked fellow-German Lars Bender and Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin with a move to north London, although it is worth noting that the club are yet to make any formal bid for a midfielder.

However, a development on Monday morning saw Borussia Monchengladbach - the club where Kramer is on a season-long loan - confirm on their website that Kramer will return to Leverkusen from 1 July 2015 and has penned a new contract until 2019, meaning that a January move is now highly unlikely unless the Gunners unexpectedly pay through the roof for his services.

The Gunners have also been given a boost with the news out of France that 21-year-old Lyon midfielder Nabil Fekir is willing to leave the south of France for Arsenal only. Le Parisien reports that Fekir’s father has spoken to confirm his son’s desire to join the Premier League side in order to play under Wenger.

Lyon midfielder Nabil Fekir only wants to leave if Arsenal make an offer (Getty Images)

Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham will look to sign West Brom striker Saido Berahino for upwards of £25m after realising initial target Jay Rodriguez will not have recovered from the ruptured cruciate ligament that ruled him out of the World Cup.

Again, the Daily Mail claims that last week’s news that Rodriguez had suffered a setback which will rule him out until February has led Spurs to re-evaluate their January plans, and a move for Berahino could be the solution with concerns over Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor’s desperate lack of goals.

Crystal Palace are reported to have moved ahead in the race to sign Yaya Sanogo from Arsenal on a loan deal until the end of the season. The Eagles were reported to be rivalling Aston Villa and Sunderland for the 21-year-old French striker, but the Mirror claims that Wenger’s willingness to let Sanogo leave short-term could be matched by Neil Warnock’s determination to bring in a striker following Marouane Chamakh’s injury.

Finally, one Chelsea player could be on his way out of the club less than six months after arriving after Spartak Moscow manager Marat Yakin revealed his desire to sign midfielder Mohamed Salah and end his Chelsea nightmare, reports the Evening Standard.

Chelsea could lose Mohamed Salah after less than six months

Salah has started just three matches this season and none of which have come in the Premier League, with Yakin saying: “I want to sign both Salah and Fabian Frei (still at Basel). I know both players well.