Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of August 26

Arsenal fans are gearing up for the last week of transfer news surrounding the club during this window, and will be hoping that some of the latest transfer rumours become a reality.

The Gunners have virtually ensured that they will be playing in the Champions League this season, after a 3-0 away win against Fenerbahce last Wednesday. That should help the club tempt any last-minute targets, but it will still be tough.

At this stage in the game, selling clubs have the power, and that usually means asking for more money. Arsene Wenger has missed out on a lot of rumoured targets all summer due to finances, but fans will be hoping that changes this week.

Click through to find out the latest Arsenal transfer news and rumours.

Last Updated: Thursday, August 29

*Unless otherwise stated, all statistics, courtesy of ESPN FC and WhoScored.

Arsenal Sign Mathieu Flamini...Again

Updated: Thursday, August 29

Arsenal.com announced on Thursday that the club has signed Mathieu Flamini on a free transfer. The French midfielder was out of contract after a five-year spell at AC Milan.

Flamini spent four years at Arsenal between 2004 and 2008, becoming an extremely effective, and combative defensive midfielder. 

The 29-year-old will add plenty of experience to the Arsenal midfield, and that extra bit of steel that the Gunners require. He may not be a regular starter for the Gunners in his second period at the club, but Flamini will be a welcome addition.

Mesut Ozil Is the Latest Real Madrid Player to Be Linked with a Move to Arsenal

Last Updated: Wednesday, August 28

Darren Lewis of the Mirror writes that Real Madrid playmaker, Mesut Ozil, is close to a Real Madrid exit, with Arsenal a possible destination.

With Gareth Bale still a possible arrival at the Bernabeu, Ozil could be one of the players to make way. The German midfielder has been subbed off with over 20 minutes left in Real Madrid's first two La Liga games.

Ozil became a key figure for the Madrid side during Jose Mourinho's time in charge, but has competition in the form of new signing Isco this season. If the possibility of a Madrid exit does become a reality, Arsenal certainly won't be the only club interested in the German midfielder.

Geoffrey Kondogbia to Buy-out Contract and Move to Monaco

Last Updated: Wednesday, August 28

Both Sky Sports and the Daily Mail have reported that Sevilla midfielder, Geoffrey Kondogbia, is set to buy-out his contract, with the Mail's Simon Jones reporting that Monaco, not Arsenal, is the player's intended destination.

Here's the official statement from Sevilla FC in Spanish.

Arsenal's inability to sign Kondogbia would represent another major loss in the transfer market, as the French midfielder is the type of strong presence Arsenal needs in midfield, and he is still young enough to be nurtured by Arsene Wenger.

Angel Di Maria Wants to Stay at Real Madrid

Last Updated: Wednesday, August 28

In news that will come as a surprise to few, Real Madrid winger, Angel Di Maria, has told Spanish publication AS(h/t Goal.com) that he wants to stay at Real Madrid.

Ruben Jimenez of Marca wrote over the weekend that Arsenal was interested in the Argentinian winger, who may find playing-time difficult to come by should Gareth Bale join Madrid. Di Maria has started both league games for the Spanish side so far this season.

Arsenal to Make Renewed Bid for Vicente Guaita

According to Jamie Sanderson of Metro, Arsenal will look to make a renewed bid for Valencia goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski are Arsenal's current first-team goalkeepers, but doubts persist over the Polish duo.

Szczesny is still seen as Arsenal's No. 1 for the future, but he has not had significant competition for the No. 1 spot and has continued to show moments of immaturity in goal. 

Arsenal may be hoping that the arrival of a new goalkeeper can get the best out of the talented Szczesny, and strengthen a weak area for the club.

Espanyol Goalkeeper Linked with Gunners

As Arsenal's goalkeeper search continues, the club has been linked, via Mundo Deportivo (h/t Charles Perrin of the Daily Express) with Espanyol's Kiko Casilla.

Casilla battled it out with Cristian Alvarez for the first-choice position at Espanyol during the last few seasons. With the Argentine goalkeeper now gone, Casilla will expect to feature regularly for Espanyol.

Nicklas Bendtner Attracting Interest

Arsenal's Danish striker, Nicklas Bendtner, is attracting some interest both domestically and across Europe.

Darren Lewis of Mirror Football reports that Crystal Palace has shown an interest in Bendtner, while Goal.com's Wayne Veysey has revealed that German club Hamburg has submitted a bid.

Bendtner has spent the last two seasons away from Arsenal on-loan at Sunderland and Juventus. He no longer has a future within the Arsenal setup, and Arsenal will be keen to get rid of him given the interest that has been shown.

Arsenal Linked with Move for Angel Di Maria

Madrid-based publication Marca and Ruben Jimenez has linked Arsenal with a move for Angel Di Maria. Gareth Bale's impending move to Real Madrid means the Argentinian is likely to feature less for the Spanish giants this season.

Arsenal are in need of a winger who can provide width and creativity, and Di Maria certainly fits the bill. One of the biggest question marks would be whether or not he can stand up to the rigors of the Premier League. 

Arsenal would also have to shell out a significant fee to sign the mercurial winger, and that would be a major point of contention this late in the transfer window.

Juan Mata Linked in Shock Move

Juan Mata has been a key figure for Chelsea since his arrival before the 2011/12 season, but Mirror Football's Dean Jones reports that Arsenal could be set to make a shock move for the Spaniard.

Despite his performances for Chelsea over the last few seasons, Mata now has to impress Jose Mourinho, and with arrival of Willian, as well as the in-house competition from Eden Hazard, Oscar, Kevin De Bruyne and Andre Schurrle, he has a lot to do.

Signing Mata could help solve Arsenal's inability to sign a striker. The former Valencia man would surely start in his favoured No. 10 position, while allowing Santi Cazorla to play out wide. That would then allow Arsene Wenger to give Lukas Podolski more opportunities in his preferred position as a forward.

Arsenal Told to Come and Get Yohan Cabaye

Yohan Cabaye is still yet to feature for Newcastle this season, after he was left out of his club's encounter with West Ham on Saturday.

TalkSPORT's Anton Stanley reports that Newcastle manager, Alan Pardew, has said that Arsenal must make a move if the club really is interested in the French midfielder.

"

Pardew said: If Arsenal want to sign the player they’re going to need to sign him soon because at some point we’re just going to say no.

That’s a position we’ll get to in a couple of days unless something gets resolved.

I think that’s the ideal situation for the manager, the player and more importantly for our fans who are suffering.

He’s not been involved [against West Ham]. He’s on our books so he should be, in my opinion.

"

According to Steve Stammers and Matt Law of Mirror Football, Arsenal is set to make an improved bid for the player. Arsene Wenger's interest in the player does make sense given the lack of options in midfield, but there are other pressing concerns for the club in terms of depth.

Arsenal fans will be hoping that Cabaye is not the only player added to the ranks in the coming days, as reinforcements are needed in central defense and in the attacking third.