Arsenal Transfer Rumour: Bartely Loan to Rangers May See Wenger Sign Bougherra

Arsenal were kept busy on the final day of the January transfer window with a number of youngsters in transfer action. Wenger kept his monotonous transfer ways, refusing to splurge and secure the services of quality players. However, the Frenchman was active in the youth department.

Highly touted French striker Gilles Sunu departed to French side Lorient FC for the remainder of the season. The 19-year-old joins fellow Gunner Francis Coquelin, who has been at Les Merlus since the beginning of 2010/2011.

Dutch midfielder Nacer Barazite was recalled from his loan spell with Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in order to sign a permanent deal with Austrian giants Austria Vienna. Whilst Japanese forward Ryo Miyachi, who arrived at the Emirates at the beginning of the month after impressing with Chukyodai Chukyo High School, has been loaned to Dutch giants Feyenoord.

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But the main talking point was with boom youngster Kyle Bartley. The young defender has agreed to a loan spell with Scottish giants Rangers. The highly regarded 19-year-old returned from a stellar stint with Championship side Sheffield United, where Bartley was an integral part of the Blades back line, amassing 23 appearances.

The Englishman is touted as a future Arsenal centre half and two loan spells with Sheffield have proved Bartley has the ability to thrive in the Premier League. But the immediate switch to the Scottish Premier League raises questions that the move was part of a deal to send Madjid Bougherra to the Emirates.

The Algerian defender was rumoured to be a target for Wenger but a deal failed to materilaize. Wenger had admitted a defensive signing was a possibility as injuries have condemned the Gunners to only two fit central defenders in recent weeks.

The 28-year-old would be an ideal signing who provides experience, strength and patience to the Arsenal defence. With Bartley signing to Rangers, it is likely Bougherra, who impressed at the 2010 World Cup, could join Arsenal in a deal worth around  £5 million.

The transfer window is technically over but a late deal is not out of the question, which means the deal is a realistic possibility.