Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Sagna, Zouma And Sanabria Involved In Latest Rumors getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Sagna, Zouma And Sanabria Involved In Latest Rumors

Arsene Wenger admits that he still dreams about having Luis Suarez at Arsenal. The Gunners made two failed bids for the Liverpool forward this summer, the second of which they believed triggered a release clause in his Anfield contract. That proved not to be the case, with Liverpool stating that there was no way their star man would be sold to a rival for a Champions League place.

Despite openly stating his desire to leave Liverpool in the summer, the Uruguayan has been in terrific form for the Reds this season. Suarez currently leads the Premier League scoring charts, despite missing the first five games through suspension, and was even made captain for Liverpool in the 5-0 hammering of Tottenham on Sunday. Wenger remains effusive in his praise for the 26-year-old.

"I think that every defender in England hates playing against him," he told French TV show Telefoot.

"He has a strong, provocative personality. From the information I gathered on him it appears that on a day-to-day level he is really easy to work with. Also that he's respectful, he loves training, he's an angel. He turns into a demon when he's on the pitch.

"We all dream about having players like that."

There appears little prospect of that dream coming true for Wenger. With Liverpool currently sitting second in the Premier League, there is a very real prospect of them returning to the Champions League next season and that may be enough to convince Suarez to stay beyond the summer. Even if he does push for a transfer, Liverpool will doubtless only allow him to depart for a team outside of England, where there are sure to be many suitors.

Meanwhile, the future of Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna remains in doubt. With his contract set to expire next summer, the 30-year-old admits that he is keeping his options open.

"I would love to win trophies with this club, it's a club I love so much but something is missing,” he told beIN Sport, according to Sky Sports.

"I've still got six months on my contract with Arsenal. We are in negotiations. It's an option to go somewhere in January but I always had a good relationship with Arsenal.

"I've been playing there for seven years and I hope we will end up on something good. First of all I want to finish as champion because we have got a good opportunity to do it this year, and after we will see."

There are reports that Arsenal want to add to their defensive options in January. According to the Daily Mirror, Wenger will compete with Chelsea to try and land St Etienne center-back Kurt Zouma. Winner of the Under-20 World Cup with France this summer, Zouma has been highly tipped for some time and has previously been strongly linked with Manchester United. His season has been halted, though, after receiving a 10-match ban last month following a tackle which broke the leg of Sochaux’s Thomas Guerbert.

One deal that appears increasingly likely to go through is the signing of Barcelona youngster Toni Sanabria. The 17-year-old could well become the latest product of La Masia to join Arsenal, following in the footsteps of the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Fran Merida and Jon Toral, with his agent confirming that discussions are underway.

“Our contacts with Arsenal are advanced and I expect a solution in the next week,” Raul Verdu said last week, according to the Daily Mirror.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Sagna, Zouma And Sanabria Involved In Latest Rumors

Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Reus, Pato And Fellaini Involved In Latest Rumors getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Reus, Pato And Fellaini Involved In Latest Rumors

Marouane Fellaini has claimed that he turned down interest from Arsenal this summer in order to sign for Manchester United. The Belgian midfielder was linked with a move away from Everton throughout the transfer window, before eventually moving to Old Trafford on deadline day. Arsenal’s interest was much mooted, but Fellaini explained that it was the chance to work with his former Everton boss David Moyes again that swayed his decision.

"I don't want to tell you everything what happened during the transfer," he told beIN Sport. "This was done at the last minute. In a transfer window, there is always a list of players, you never know if it's true or not. But for me, I knew [Moyes] was interested in me.

"Chelsea? No comment. Arsenal? It's true, they were interested, but Manchester United convinced me to sign for them."

Arsene Wenger eventually ended up adding some combativeness to his midfield by bringing back Mathieu Flamini on a free transfer. However, the lack of another player with his qualities has been exposed with Flamini unavailable in recent matches.

In the end, of course, Arsenal spent their money with the record-signing of Mesut Ozil. Despite his arrival, there continues to be speculation that Wenger is still targeting another German attacking midfielder in Marco Reus. Since his move from Borussia Monchengladbach last summer, the 24-year-old has flourished and been linked to the likes of Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Arsenal. But Reus says that he is not interested in the speculation.

“I live in the here and now and therefore I am delighted to be a player of Borussia Dortmund,” he told German magazine Kicker, according to Sky Sports. "I am under contract with the club until June 2017. Everything else is irrelevant, from my point of view.”

It is hard to imagine Arsenal paying a massive fee to sign another creative midfielder, given their current strength in that position. Instead, it is far more likely that Wenger’s transfer business in January will concentrate on adding to his striking options. Nicklas Bendtner remains the main alternative to Olivier Giroud and the Dane did little to inspire confidence in his ability to step into the side for any considerable length of time with his performance against Chelsea on Tuesday.

Luis Suarez was targeted feverishly by the Gunners over the summer and the Daily Star believes that they will return with another bid in January. That seems unlikely, although their claim about strong interest from Real Madrid appears to have more veracity. If Suarez is still intent on leaving Liverpool, then the club would doubtless far prefer him to leave the Premier League. Whether the suggestion of a deal involving Madrid sending Karim Benzema and £20 million to Liverpool in exchange for Suarez has any substance to it is more questionable.

A new forward target has also been put forward by the Daily Star in the shape of Brazil international Alexandre Pato. Big things were expected of the 24 year old when he moved to Milan as a teenager, but a succession of injuries has led to him failing to yet fulfill his potential. A move back to Brazil with Corinthians in January last year has yet to so far inspire the revival that was hoped. Indeed, Pato has often found himself sitting on the substitute’s bench, with Peruvian Paolo Guerrero starting in his stead.

Pato recently revealed interest from Tottenham in the summer, while stories in Brazil reportedly suggest that Arsenal are also interested. It seems unlikely that a big European club will be willing to take a chance on Pato at this time, however.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Reus, Pato And Fellaini Involved In Latest Rumors

Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Rooney, Llorente And Hernanes Discussed In Latest Speculation getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Rooney, Llorente And Hernanes Discussed In Latest Speculation

Arsenal’s big-money summer signing Mesut Ozil provided a triumphant debut on Saturday as he set-up a goal and supplied plenty of fine moments in a 3-1 victory over Sunderland. But, according to Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, Arsene Wenger had an alternative in mind had he been unable to secure the German’s club-record £42.5 million transfer from Real Madrid.

The Ozil deal was only sanctioned in the closing hours of the transfer window after Madrid had finally completed the signing of Gareth Bale. But Gazzeetta claims that if something had gone wrong then Arsenal would have quickly moved for Lazio’s Hernanes.

The 28-year-old, who was part of the Brazil squad that lifted the Confederations Cup over the summer, has previously been linked with Tottenham. In his fourth season in Rome after arriving from Sao Paulo, Hernanes likely would have cost around half of what the Gunners paid for Ozil.

There appears little chance of Wenger reigniting his interest in Hernanes anytime soon. Arsenal are now well stocked with attacking midfielders, as Ozil joins Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky at the Emirates.

An area of the squad that it seems certain that Wenger would still like to strengthen is up front. Approaches failed for both Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez over the summer, leaving Arsenal short of alternatives for Olivier Giroud. Indeed, Wenger has confirmed his concern at the situation was what led him to blocking Nicklas Bendtner’s move to Crystal Palace.

Unattached Romanian striker Ciprian Marica has been strongly mooted as a target who could join the club immediately. However, other strikers are also said to be on Wenger’s radar heading into the reopening of the transfer window in January.

Indeed, the Daily Mail claims that Suarez still remains very much in Wenger’s thinking. Arsenal failed with a now infamous bid of £40 million and £1 in the summer with Liverpool stating categorically that the Uruguayan would not be sold to Arsenal -- an anticipated rival for a Champions League place. It is difficult to see that situation changing come midseason. Real Madrid have also been linked with making a move for Suarez in January.

Wenger was also not shy in discussing his interest in Wayne Rooney during the close season. Ultimately, it was Chelsea which pursued the England international strongest and ended up having two bids rejected. Manchester United repeatedly claimed that Rooney was not for sale, despite the player’s unhappiness at Old Trafford.

The Mail, though, believes that Arsenal could sanction a £30 million bid for the 27-year-old in January. While Rooney now seems more settled at United under David Moyes, his future will continue to be the source of speculation until he signs a new contract. His current deal will have just 18 months to run come the next transfer window.

Arsenal are also among the clubs monitoring Fernando Llorente’s situation at Juventus, according to the Daily Mirror. The Gunners had been linked with the Spain striker before he signed a pre-contract agreement to join the Italian champions on a free transfer. Llorente, though, has made just one substitute appearance since his arrival this summer, sparking speculation about his future. Such talk is somewhat absurd at this stage, however. Llotente hardly played for Athletic Bilbao last season as part of a dispute over his exit and it was always likely to take him time to get back up to speed.

While the signing of Ozil took a large chunk of out the club's budget, it is believed that Arsenal still have significant funds to spend. Fans may also be clamoring for the club to continue to enhance their squad after it was revealed by Forbes on Monday that chairman Stan Kroenke’s wealth stands at $5.3 billion (£3.3b), making the St. Louis Rams owner the second richest owner in the NFL.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Rooney, Llorente And Hernanes Discussed In Latest Speculation

Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Reus, Gundogan And Bender Involved In Latest Speculation getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Reus, Gundogan And Bender Involved In Latest Speculation

Arsenal may have nearly trebled their transfer record on deadline day last week, but there could yet be big money spent to further enhance the Gunners’ squad in January. Mesut Ozil’s arrival for £42.5 million finally fulfilled promises by the club this summer that they were willing and able to shop at the top end of the market. However, according to the Daily Mirror, £40 million remains in the transfer kitty to be spent when the window reopens in the New Year.

The story states that, encouraged at his determination to force through the Ozil deal, Arsenal are set to re-open negotiations with Arsene Wenger over a new contract. Some groups of Arsenal fans had called for contract talks to be put on hold after a defeat to Aston Villa on the opening day of the season, which followed what, to that point, had been a summer of disappointment in the transfer market.

But now Wenger is set to be given more money to spend. Having failed with approaches for Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez, a striker is still considered Wenger’s priority, and the Liverpool forward remains very much in his thoughts, according to The Telegraph.

Arsenal made a £40 million and £1 bid for Suarez, appearing to believe, erroneously as it turned out, that it would trigger a release clause in the player’s contract. Instead the offer just angered Liverpool and strengthened their resolve not to sell to a club that they consider rivals for a Champions League place. It is difficult to see that situation changing come January. Suarez too may be loathed to cause further drama in midseason, just five months before he will potentially be set to head to the World Cup.

Another position that Wenger tried and failed to bolster in the summer was defensive midfield. A bid of £18.5 million was rejected by Bayer Leverkusen for their Germany international Lars Bender, but the player remains on Wenger’s wanted list, reports the Mirror. Arsenal will no doubt hope that the addition of Ozil to add to an already strong contingent of Germans at the Emirates will encourage Bender, the brother of Borussia Dortmund’s Sven, to push for a switch. Quite whether Arsenal will be prepared to increase their bid in January, especially with the 24-year-old almost certain to be cup-tied for the Champions League is another matter.

The same problem exists with another player whom Wenger is said to be monitoring, Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan. While not a natural defensive midfielder, Gundoggan has the tenacity and energy combined with his exceptional ability on the ball, to perhaps make it work. It appears likely that the 22-year-old will move on next summer, however. There has already been talk of Real Madrid attempting to line up a deal.

The third Germany international linked with the Gunners in Monday’s press is Marco Reus. An attacking midfielder who can play either from out wide or centrally, Reus would not appear to be a priority following the signing of Ozil. Yet, the Telegraph believes that the Dortmund man will be extensively scouted during the current season. It is said that both Gundogan and Reus will command around £20 million. Given the fees paid this summer, though, both could well be valued significantly higher.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Reus, Gundogan And Bender Involved In Latest Speculation

Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Benzema, Cabaye And Kondogbia Discussed In Latest Speculation getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Benzema, Cabaye And Kondogbia Discussed In Latest Speculation

Arsene Wenger has again stressed that he will not be pressured into making signings simply for the sake of it. There is now less than a week to go in a transfer window that started with bold statements from Arsenal about their new financial power and ability to compete at the top of the market. But Wenger has faced increasing dissention in recent weeks, having only brought in young French striker Yaya Sanogo on a free transfer.

Many have predicted a similar deadline-day dash to that which occurred in the summer of 2011. Several of the signings made in the dying embers of that window -- like Andre Santos, Chu-Young Park and Yossi Benayoun -- contributed very little before departing. But Wenger has said that he will only make the right signings.

"That is the key word -- the right additions," he explained. "That is what I work at -- the right additions. It is not just about additions.

"If you look at the players, you see [Tomas] Rosicky, [Santi] Cazorla, [Aaron] Ramsey, [Jack] Wilshere -- so to find better players you have to travel. [For example] we need a player who is versatile, who can play in different positions in midfield, because at the moment we are a little bit stretched.

"Attitude and focus [are also important], the mental aspect in the modern game is vital. I watched the games yesterday [Sunday] and you have to be completely focused for 90 minutes."

According to the Daily Mirror’s latest report, it is Karim Benzema who is the focus of Wenger’s attention. Talk of Arsenal’s interest in the Real Madrid striker has been frequent in recent days, but the tabloid’s story claims that Benzema has even been offered to the Gunners.

Such reports contradict comments from Benzema’s agent, who has claimed that the 25-year-old will be staying at the Bernabeu and, indeed, imminently signing a new contract. Benzema’s future is likely to depend on whether Madrid opt to pursue a move for Liverpool forward Luis Suarez.

Arsenal’s long pursuit of the Uruguayan was thought to have ended with him being integrated back into the Liverpool squad and the club stating that he would under no circumstances be sold to the Gunners. Incredibly, the Mirror believes that Arsenal are still monitoring Suarez’s situation.

There doesn’t appear to have yet been any further progress made on Arsenal’s attempts to pry Yohan Cabaye from Newcastle. A bid of around £10 million has been rejected with Newcastle set to be after around twice that amount, despite the France midfielder having his head turned to the extent that he has not played for the club since.

“The bottom line is with world-class players if they move on, it has to be world-class money,” Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said, according to Sky Sports. "The answer isn't as simple as a 'yes' or a 'no'. The answer is he is either going to be sold and we are going to have to replace him in the window that we have left, or he's going to stay.”

Arsenal appear to have missed out on another reported midfield target, however. There is a glaring lack of a natural defensive midfielder in Wenger’s squad, but so far deals have failed to materialize for both Lars Bender and Luiz Gustavo. And now, it seems, that Geoffrey Kondogbia can be added to that list.

The 20-year-old Sevilla man helped France to the Under-20 World Cup title this summer and has been linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Yet, big-spending Monaco now look poised to secure his signature, having agreed to pay his €20 million (£17.2m) release clause, according to RMC.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Suarez, Benzema, Cabaye And Kondogbia Discussed In Latest Speculation