Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Reported to Sign Santi Cazorla Within the Week

Arsenal transfer target Santi Cazorla is expected to sign at the Emirates within the next few days with reports emerging that Arsene Wenger is keen to wrap up a deal with the talented midfielder.

The Malaga midfielder—who is believed to want out of the club due to escalating problems with player wages and not being paid by the Spanish club—is rumored to cost Arsenal around £15 million, though Malaga will most likely want around £20 million for the player.

According to The Daily Mail:

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Arsene Wenger expects to complete the club record £15million transfer of Santi Cazorla by Tuesday. Though Malaga are holding out for £20m, Arsenal hope a debt deadline imposed on the financially-stricken Spanish club will seal the deal.

With Robin van Persie poised to leave, the capture of Carzola, 27, is the major signing of the summer that Wenger has been promising.

Arsenal have been hampered by the lack of an authoritative figure to deal with at Malaga, but with the player now set on a move and Qatari negotiators flying in this weekend, there is hope the deal can be concluded swiftly.

Adding Carzola to the signings of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud represents the most significant summer strengthening since Arsenal imposed financial constraints on transfers since 2004.

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The Gunners were beaten to the Spanish midfielder last season by Qatari Sheik Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Thani, who had recently bought the Spanish club, and in doing so, had seemingly lined their pockets with endless funds throughout the transfer window.

Thus, for Malaga not to be paying their players—to the point that their stars want out of the club—is somewhat strange. However, it is important to note that this is a club that has been given an ultimatum to clear their debts, or be relegated.

As a result of their massive debts, Malaga have been given until the end of the month to clear them or face relegation for the upcoming season. That would relegate them to the Spanish second division, but it would also cost them their UEFA license and Champions League expulsion—which in itself would surely cost the club millions upon millions.

The Spanish up-and-comers are therefore needing to clear their debts fast, and it seems that Arsene Wenger has spotted a potential steal and swooped up the midfielder.

The 27-year-old, who was part of Spain's recent win at the 2012 European Championships, would be an excellent addition to the Gunners' midfield next season and would boost the impact of new recruits Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.

Is Santi Cazorla making a move to the Emirates?

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