Arsenal Transfer News: Tracking All the Latest Rumors and Updates

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The winter transfer window has officially opened with the start of January, and already there's plenty of Arsenal transfer news for us to pore through and discuss.

The North London club has started the season in less than ideal fashion; their current points total the fewest points that they have picked up in their opening 21 games through the last eight seasons under current manager Arsene Wenger.

Their recent outing to Southampton yielded just a 1-1 draw for the away side, in which they looked tired, lethargic, and nowhere near their consistent best.

Thus the Gunners are expected to make some moves over the transfer window this January, and bring in new players to help boost the squad for the rest of the year.

Read on to see who could be coming to the Emirates this winter.

Wesley Sneijder

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We kick off our transfer news with Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder, who is believed to be a transfer target of Arsenal over the winter transfer window.

Or was believed to be anyway, after The Daily Mail reported that the Gunners had turned down the chance to sign the Dutch international on a free transfer, because his wage demands were too high.

The 28-year-old reportedly wanted around £200,000 per game.

Adrian Lopez

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Arsenal has reportedly made an inquiry about Atletico Madrid striker Adrian Lopez after it was revealed that teammate Radamel Falcao would not be leaving the club for Chelsea over the transfer period.

The Gunners have reportedly made a £10 million approach for Lopez (per Goal), but do not want to pay the £14 million buy-out clause that the striker has in his contract (per The Daily Mirror).

The 24-year-old Spanish international would no doubt have a strong partnership with international teammate Santi Cazorla, should he switch to the North London club.

Theo Walcott

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Arsenal is believed to be getting closer in a new contract with winger turned striker Theo Walcott that would keep him at the club until the 2017 Premier League season (per The Daily Mail).

The club will reportedly increase their £75,000 per week offer for the England international (per The Daily Mirror) and will persuade the 22-year-old to sign a new five-year deal and give some much needed confidence and good feeling back to the club following their poor result against Southampton.

Wilfried Zaha

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However, the news of Arsenal's desire to keep Theo Walcott could well mean the end of their chase for the Crystal Palace wonder-kid, Wilfried Zaha, whom the club has been keeping tabs on over the past few months.

Zaha has already featured for England this season and was thought to be a transfer target for Arsene Wenger, but according to Talksport, will be dropped off the Gunners' transfer list, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur left to fight it out for the young star.

Johan Djourou

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German club Hannover has confirmed their interest in Arsenal defender Johan Djourou, who is also thought to be a transfer target for Italian club Napoli this January. 

The club's president, President Martin Kind is quoted by The Daily Mirror as saying that "I can confirm the name, he is on our list—there have been talks [about a transfer]".

Djourou hasn't played for the Gunners since their 7-5 win over Reading in the Capital One Cup and is yet to see league action all season despite injuries to other defenders.

Sebastian Squillaci

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Arsenal defender Sebastien Squillaci will reportedly leave the club this winter transfer window, with news breaking over Twitter as to his departure from the club.

The North London club has not released official information yet on whether Squillaci will be departing the Emirates or not, though the defender is believed to have confirmed he is leaving the club during an interview—leaving the club with just three central defenders for the season ahead.

Not that too many Arsenal fans will be regretting his departure.

Luke Young

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According to Sky Sports, Plymouth youngster Luke Young is being touted as a potential transfer signing for Arsenal, who are believed to have been keeping track of the 19-year-old playmaker.

West Bromwich Albion and a number of other Championship teams are also thought to be tracking Young, who plays as a central attacking midfielder but can also operate out wide.

Luke Shaw

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Arsenal is believed to be keen in signing Southampton defender Luke Shaw this January, following a report in The Telegraph that outlined the Gunners' intent.

Wenger has spent more than £20 million over the past few years bringing in former Southampton academy graduates—Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain—and is thought to rate the 17-year-old defender very highly as well.

Shaw played against Arsenal in their recent 1-1 draw.

Nani

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Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has dismissed talk that the club will look to sign Manchester United winger Nani over the transfer window, simply stating via Goal: "Nani? No".

The veteran manager then went on to say that Arsenal "don’t look at any player from United because players are under contract and I don’t think they would sell a player during the course of the season".

Nani had been touted as a potential transfer replacement for Theo Walcott, with the presence of Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia, and Shinji Kagawa driving the Portuguese international to the outer at Old Trafford.

Lewis Holtby

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Our final bit of Arsenal transfer news comes from The Daily Mail, who report that Arsenal has fallen behind rival Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby.

The 22-year-old played the Gunners in their Champions League encounters recently, and he was believed to be a transfer target for Wenger's midfield—along with the plans of David Moyes at Everton and Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham Hotspur.

Out of the three clubs in question, Arsenal is the least likely to sign Holtby, as good as he might be.

 

Any Arsenal transfer news or rumors that were missed?

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