Arsenal Transfer News: Top-Class Signings Lined Up by Arsene Wenger in January

Arsenal's stuttering start to the 2014-15 campaign has created a sense of urgency for the club to reinforce their ranks during the January transfer window, with assets in all areas strongly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsene Wenger has been unfortunate to see a host of injuries affect his side's season, and rising speculation suggests that the Gunners will be one of England's busier giants in the transfer market in 2015.

Read on for a breakdown of the most recent transfer news surrounding the north Londoners.

Petr Cech

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Thibaut Courtois has firmly established himself as Chelsea's No. 1 choice in goal after Jose Mourinho chose to relegate Petr Cech to the bench this season, and it's plausible the reserve stopper may seek his exit in January.

Mark Irwin of The Sun (h/t Metro's Vaishali Bhardwaj) writes that Arsenal are one of the sides hoping to take advantage of the situation with a £7 million swoop.

Mourinho would undoubtedly prefer not to sell to a direct rival, but should Cech take to the idea of remaining in England's capital, competing with Wojciech Szczesny could make for a more appealing head-to-head.

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Courtois recently praised Cech's talent, but he told Sky Sports that he wouldn't blame the Stamford Bridge veteran for leaving:

“As a goalkeeper you want to play. If I was in that situation where I didn’t play a lot, then I would leave too. I think Petr is still a goalkeeper with a lot of quality and one of the best there is."

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Wenger already brought in David Ospina as goalkeeping back-up in the summer, but Cech would be a more elite asset in all regards, something Arsenal haven't boasted for a number of years.

The cut-price tag on the 32-year-old's head merely makes the deal more appealing, but Bhardwaj reports that Liverpool, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain will also be competing for his signature.

Christoph Kramer

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The injury woes of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere over the past 12 months have made for an inconsistent core in Arsenal's midfield, and 2014 World Cup winner Christoph Kramer has allegedly drawn the Gunners' eye.

Kramer wouldn't be able to move until next summer as he's currently in the second season of a two-year loan at Borussia Monchengladbach from Bayer Leverkusen.

However, the Daily Star's Chisanga Malata says that hasn't deterred Wenger, with Manchester United also interested in the holding midfielder.

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Arsenal are buoyed by Kramer's intentions to test his skills abroad, however, with the 23-year-old quoted by Malata as telling German newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt: "That [moving abroad] has always interested me. I would not be afraid. I want to find out what my limit is and I always strive for the very best."

Kramer has enjoyed a good spell of form with Gladbach, fighting his way into being called up as a late starter in this year's World Cup final.

The trio of Ramsey, Wilshere and Mikel Arteta have been effective for Wenger when fit and in form, but it's a widely held belief that a tougher presence is needed at their core, with Kramer offering a more balanced, versatile presence.

Seydou Doumbia

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The acquisition of Danny Welbeck on transfer deadline day helped satiate the blow of Olivier Giroud's four-month injury layoff, but it has been reported that Arsenal will seek further attacking prowess in the form of Seydou Doumbia.

The CSKA Moscow striker recently impressed with goals in his side's Champions League fixtures against Manchester City, and Simon Jones of the Daily Mail reports the Ivorian could finally make the move away from Russia.

In the report, Doumbia's representative Jean Bernard Beytrison is quoted as saying:

"

We are currently in negotiations over a new contract. There is plenty of interest in Seydou from England plus clubs in Spain, Germany and Italy. He is a goalscorer and there aren't many of them around. However, he is contracted to CSKA and clubs will have to pay their fee.

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OptaFranz illustrates just how prolific Doumbia has been in European competition:

Arsenal aren't the only Premier League side interested, however, and Jones adds that CSKA are attempting to extend the striker's deal before they see him leave for possibly as little as £15 million.

With just over 18 months left on his current deal, Doumbia will understandably draw in a mass of attention, but the Gunners will hope they are not drawn into a bidding war with the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool.