Arsenal Transfer News: Lewandowski, Benzema, Casillas And Ter Stegen Involved In Latest January Rumors getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Arsenal Transfer News: Lewandowski, Benzema, Casillas And Ter Stegen Involved In Latest January Rumors

Arsene Wenger has not ruled out re-entering the transfer market in January, despite expressing his delight at now having a “massive squad” at his disposal. There was much concern from Arsenal fans at the start of the season that the club had failed to utilize their boasted new financial strength. But that changed dramatically with the club-record signing of Mesut Ozil. And the German has played a big part in Arsenal soaring to the top of the Premier League and being well-placed in their Champions League group ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Borussia Dortmund. What’s more, the positive results have been achieved with plenty of players still on the treatment table.

"We have a squad that is very, very good in quality and in numbers," he said, according to ESPN. "If there is a good opportunity to make another signing in January, why not? But we are not desperate now.

"It's important to remember who is out injured because when they all come back in November and the beginning of December, then we have a really massive squad."

The area of the squad that Wenger looks most likely to strengthen is up front. Deals failed to be reached for Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain in the summer, leaving a heavy reliability on Olivier Giroud. There has been mounting speculation in recent weeks that Arsenal are targeting Giroud’s rival for a place in the France team, Karim Benzema.

The 25-year-old has had a disappointing start to his season at Real Madrid and there has been talk of the Spanish giants already lining up his replacement. Metro now reports on the latest rumor, coming from a recognized FIFA agent who claims that Benzema will be the subject of a big-money offer form a major Premier League club.

“A very important Premier League club is after Karim,” Francois Gallardo told Le Sport 10. “This club wants the transfer to happen this winter, but if this is not possible, then next summer at the latest. “The offer will be around €50 million (£43.3m).”

A January move would be complicated by, among other factors, Benzema being cup-tied for the Champions League, should Arsenal make it through to the knockout phase. The same would be true should speculation linking Arsenal with a move for Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski come to fruition.

The Daily Mirror makes the claim that the Gunners are prepared to pay £25 million for the striker, who they will come up against on Tuesday, despite his contract expiring at the end of the season. The Poland international has long-been widely expected to move to Bayern Munich on a free transfer and even appeared to admit that a deal was all-but done. However, he has since tried to backtrack on that revelation as well as stating, while he was in England on international duty, that he would one day like to play in the Premier League. Such comments have got the British press excited that Lewandowski could yet come to their shores, but a move to Bayern still seems a near certainty, barring a dramatic twist.

The form of Olivier Giroud also counts against such large sums being spent on a new striker. Indeed, Wenger believes that the failure to bring in a big-name forward over the summer has helped the former Montpellier man’s impressive start to the campaign.

"Maybe it was a bit of luck for Olivier that nobody came in,” he said. “It meant he knew at the start of the season that he would get a chance to show just how good he is.

"And this season he has been amazing. His technical level has improved so much since he arrived here. Instead of always just thinking 'I have to score,' he has become a real team player.”

It is a similar situation with Arsenal’s goalkeeping department. It was believed that Wenger was targeting a more experienced stopper over the summer due to Wojciech Szczesny’s poor season last term. But the Pole has started this campaign well, not giving loan signing from Palermo, Emiliano Viviano, a look in.

Still, Arsenal continue to be linked with goalkeepers, and Iker Casillas in particular. The Real Madrid legend has not won his place back in the team, despite the exit of Jose Mourinho and arrival of Carlo Ancelotti, and recently said that he would have to reassess his future in January. But Ancelotti is hoping that the Spain international will remain at the Bernabeu.

“I haven't talked to him about leaving," he said, according to Talksport. "He's a great keeper and a great professional. "Even if he doesn't play he helps the team, he's a true captain. "I hope he stays because he's good for the atmosphere. I need to talk to him because it's only fair, but he looks happy to me and he's been very professional."

Talksport also links Arsenal with a move for Borussia Monchengladbach’s highly rated young keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The 21-year-old Germany international has been strongly linked with a transfer to Barcelona, with recent reports suggesting that a move had all-but been agreed. But the player’s agent has now claimed that he is in discussions to extend his stay.

"Borussia already knows that there are two or three big clubs interested in him," Gerd vom Bruch is reported to have told Marca. "Right now we are talking with the club about extending his contract."

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Arsenal Transfer News: Lewandowski, Benzema, Casillas And Ter Stegen Involved In Latest January Rumors

Chelsea Transfer News: Berahino, Benzema, Fischer And Otamendi Discussed In Latest Reports getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Chelsea Transfer News: Berahino, Benzema, Fischer And Otamendi Discussed In Latest Reports

There continues to be speculation that Chelsea are intent on adding to their forward line in the January transfer window. It was a position that Jose Mourinho was widely expected to spend significant sums on strengthening over the summer with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao heavily linked. Yet, in the end 32-year-old Samuel Eto’o arrived on a free transfer, while Romelu Lukaku was surprisingly sent out on loan. Between Chelsea’s three strikers -- Eto’o, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba -- not a single goal has been scored in the Premier League so far this season.

With the failings up front threatening to undermine the impressive creativity that lies in behind, Mourinho may well be tempted to reenter the transfer market in the next window. The latest speculation has suggested that the Portuguese coach is keen to reunite with Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.

After stating his desire to stay at the Bernabeu this summer, the France international has struggled at the start of the season. His failings in front of goal have even led to jeers from his club’s own supporters on more than one occasion. The Sunday People has now made the claim that Madrid have told Benzema’s representatives to find the player a new club. Along with Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are also said to be interested. However, the 25-year-old has denied that there is any serious issue.

"There is no problem for me, so I just have to keep working," he said, according to Talksport. "I am calm -- the most important thing is to play. I need to defend more -- I get the public message. I will continue to give my all."

A move to Chelsea also looks unlikely due to the fractious relationship Mourinho enjoyed with his Madrid squad by the end of his time in the Spanish capital.

There has also been talk that Chelsea could look to boost their goal-scoring options by snapping up West Brom prodigy Saido Berahino. The Burundi-born England Under-21 international has come to prominence with five goals in seven appearances this term, including a superb winner against Manchester United recently.

Metro believes that Chelsea have been particularly taken by the 20-year-old and are poised to bid £5 million for him in January, as well as presenting the player with a contract that would significantly improve his current wages of £850 per week.

Another highly rated young forward who is long thought to have been on Chelsea’s radar is Ajax’s Viktor Fischer. After scoring 10 Eredivisie goals in his breakthrough season last campaign, he is being tracked by some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Talksport reports that Roma maybe at the head of the queue and will try to steal a march on their rivals with a move in the next transfer window.

Meanwhile, there has been a bold claim by Spanish sports daily Marca that Chelsea have wrapped up a deal to sign Argentinian defender Nicolas Otamendi for next season. The 25-year-old has established himself in central defense for Porto since arriving from Velez Sarsfield in 2010, although was selected at right back for the 2010 World Cup under the curious regime of Diego Maradona. According to Marca, Chelsea beat Barcelona and Milan to his signature.

With Branislav Ivanovic being seen as a right-back by Mourinho, Chelsea currently have just three established central defenders on their books.

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Chelsea Transfer News: Berahino, Benzema, Fischer And Otamendi Discussed In Latest Reports

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