Arsene Wenger has moved to correct Arsenal's defensive problems by stepping up an interest in Benedikt Howedes, writes Neil Moxley in the Sunday People.
The Gunners watched the German World Cup defender help Schalke to an impressive 4-0 win at Stuttgart last week.
Wenger has said he may be forced into the transfer market this January, particularly with LaurentKoscielny’s fitness constantly hanging in the balance—perESPN.co.uk:
"If everybody is fit and available we don't need to go on the transfer market, but we have to consider thatKoscielnycould be a question mark with his fitness and we have to go out on the transfer market, yes."
Howedes, 26, has two years left on his current deal with the Champions League last-16 qualifiers. But he is a friend of current Gunners centre-back Per Mertesacker and his versatility would be welcomed by Wenger.
Howedes is equally at home at left-back or centre-half and, with a fee approaching £15million, would be well within Arsenal’s budget.
Arsenal are closing in on the shock signing of Brazilian midfielder Romulo with talks with his club Spartak Moscow believed to be at an advanced stage.
Romulo was linked with a switch to the Gunners in the summer but the deal didn’t happen, and it was thought that Arsenal had decided to look elsewhere.
But Brazilian news outlet Lance says are now in pole position to sign the defensive midfielder with talks progressing over a deal.
It’s claimed that Arsenal are pushing to get the transfer done before Monday, with 24-year-old likely to snub offers back in his homeland to move to the Emirates Stadium.
Paulo Dybala looking close to extending his deal at Palermo!
Liverpool need some luck. Probably Arsenal do too, but not quite as much as the men from Anfield. So the news today that Argentine starlet, Paulo Dybala wants to stay in Italy will be more unwanted news for the Premiership duo.
The two clubs looked likely to fight for the young forward's signature in January, but hopes of that are now fading.
Dybala is rated at £30million by his club and many others in the footballing world, and with interest from England and also Inter Milan it is easy to see why Palermo are keen to keep him on their books. The Sicilian club are striving to agree an improved deal with Dybala, and that may well include a significant release clause to fend off the current interest.
Reports suggest that the 21-year-old is keen to stay at Palermo, and wants an extension to his current contract. Bad news for the chasing pack.
Arsenal have reportedly opened talks with Atletico Madrid over a deal to sign their Italian winger Alessio Cerci.
The 27-year-old was a target for the Gunners over the summer but ended up joining Atletico instead, where he has since struggled for match time.
And amid growing talk that he’s set to change clubs in the January transfer window, reports in Italy say Arsenal have approached Atletico to do business.
Cerci, who is also a target for Inter Milan, looks set to be allowed to depart if Atletico could get around £12million for his services.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have been dealt blows in the race for both Marco Reus and Sami Khedira
It has been reported that both players could be involved in a ‘swap’ deal. This swap would see Sami Khedira earn his trade in Germany and Marco Reus join Real Madrid.
Both players have been heavily linked with moves away from their current clubs, with reports filtering through over the last few months that Sami Khedira wants to go back to Germany after failing to become a first team regular, and reports that Marco Reus has been taking up Spanish lessons.
It seems Madrid will do just about anything to get their man Reus, including a £20million pound plus Khedira swap deal which is a deal (if Reus must go )Dortmund will not turn down in a bid to improve their miserable campaign in the Bundesliga.
This news will not be welcomed in the Premier League with a trio of English clubs looking to get the signature of Khedira or Reus.
Arsenal, along with Chelsea and Manchester United, have been given a major boost in their pursuit of William Carvalho, according to the Daily Express.
Recent reports indicated that the Portuguese giants weren't prepared to budge on their £35m asking for the 22-year-old.
But Sporting boss Marco Silva concedes the player could be Premier League bound in January.
"William is a target for English teams, but I want him to play his game," Silva said.
"He's not playing at the same level as last season because last season he was a surprise, but he's improving. William has many offers. Let's wait till January."
Winston Reid wants a huge pay day which will almost certainly see him leave West Ham.
Hammers defender Reid, a key figure in their remarkable start to the campaign, wants £60,000 a week and a £1million signing-on fee.
They are the figures being quoted to interested clubs and they are likely to price West Ham out of keeping the 26-year-old, who is out of contract next summer.
But it will not deter Arsenal or Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool, who are both keen on New Zealand international Reid and may even see whether they can get him on the cheap in January.
West Ham have not given up on keeping Reid and insist that they are hopeful that he will stay at the Upton Park club, especially after their great start to the campaign which has left them dreaming of European football next season.
But West Ham boss Sam Allardyce, yet to start talking about his own new deal, has admitted that he fears Reid could leave.
Arsenal are reportedly closing in on a transfer for Mattia Destro, with the Roma striker's agent set to fly in to London this week for talks over a potential move in the January transfer window.
Arsene Wenger and his Arsenal side are still reeling from the awful loss to Stoke City over the weekend, when they conceded three goals to the home side before seeing their comeback fall short by a goal.
Arsenal have looked far too fragile at the back for anybody's comfort this season, and Wenger, even if he has had injury problems, seems unable to rectify the problem.
It looked like the defensive issues were sorted, at least for now, following three straight clean sheets, but the soft underbelly of the Arsenal defence was roundly exposed by a direct Stoke City side, who put in the crosses and let their strikers do the rest.
During the aftermath of another pathetic defensive performance, the last thing that Arsenal fans will probably want to hear about is a proposed deal for another striker, but, according to the Sun, that is precisely what is being discussed.
The report says Destro's agent will be at Arsenal this week, with Wenger reportedly keen to sign the 23-year-old striker for what might be as much as £20 million.
While Destro is undoubtedly a talent, the last thing that Arsenal require at the moment is a striker.
The Gunners desperately need a strong centre-back in the January transfer window, while an equally strong defensive midfielder will also help matters considerably.
Ipswich Town's Tyrone Mings, a fullback with potential to be converted into a centre-back, has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, with Wenger even admitting the club are following his progress, while William Carvalho and Morgan Schneiderlin are the names most talked about for the defensive midfield position.
But then, Wenger does have the penchant for buying attackers, attackers and more attackers, with Destro the latest to catch the manager's fancy, according to the report.
Destro is definitely a player with tremendous potential, but if Arsenal are indeed going to buy a striker – and Arsenal have struggled in front of goal this season, despite the embarrassment of attacking riches – they might as well go for broke and try and sign someone like Edinson Cavani, who is more likely to make an immediate impact with goals than Destro.
