Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Mata, Motta, Chamberlain, Benzema and Others

Another week in the transfer window has gone by without any signing. 

Arsene Wenger started Arsenal's summer transfer window by signing Carl Jenkinson from Charlton Athletic. Barcelona kids Jon Toral Harper and Hector Bellerin have also joined Arsenal following the footsteps of Fabregas.

After weeks of rumours surrounding Gervinho's signing, he finally had a medical at the Emirates this week. Since there is some paper work to be finished in his deal, he has not been unveiled as an Arsenal player yet.

For making the next season a success, Wenger knows that he has to make some improvements in certain areas of his team. Some dead weight has to be removed and some new talents have to be added.

Here are some news regarding the rumoured targets of Arsene Wenger.

Juan Mata: Valencia

Valencia's Juan Mata has been linked with Arsenal, with reports claiming Arsene Wenger bid a club-record £18 million for the winger.

Wenger seems to have prioritize Mata as an important addition, as the Gunners' boss has never bid more than £15 million in the past (and that was for Andrei Arshavin).

Juan Mata will be a good signing, as he has been consistently averaging nearly 10 goals and 10 assists per season. He ended up scoring two goals in the recent European Under-21 Championships.

Last season, Arshavin and Nasri played on the left wing, and if Fabregas leaves this summer, Nasri (assuming that he signs another contract with the Gunners) may play in the central midfield position and Arshavin backed by Mata will feature on the left wing.

The Spanish forward’s father, Juan senior, admitted there has been interest. He said: “There have been calls from foreign clubs but now the decision rests with Valencia. He is on his holidays.”

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are targeting Mata as a replacement for Nasri incase the Frenchman leaves.

Alex Oxalade Chamberlain: Southampton

The 17-year-old was tipped to join the Gunners in the January transfer window but it did not materialize. The highly talented winger has once again been linked with the Gunners with Arsene Wenger interested in him. 

Chamberlain would be a good signing in the footsteps of Theo Walcott, who also joined Arsenal from the Saints. Having said that, I would stop with "good" signing. The reason being,

1) Chamberlain is young and may not be an instant hit in the premier league.

2) Also, the teen is rated at £12 million, which seems to be a gamble for a club entering its seventh season without a trophy.

3) Wenger signed Ryo Miyaichi in the January transfer window and sent him on loan—who impressed everyone with his loan spell. Miyaichi being a winger, Chamberlain may not be needed at the Emirates.

According to the Daily Star, Arsenal have made a £6 million bid for Alex Oxalade Chamberlain but the Saints boss has rejected the bid as derisory.

It is to be seen whether Wenger will continue his pursuit for the highly-rated young winger.

Thiago Motta: Inter Milan

After Arsenal target Alvarez was signed by Inter Milan, rumours started that Wenger was interested in Inter Milan's Thiago Motta.

Motta plays as a central midfielder and his main traits are physical presence, good passing, and a powerful mid-range shot. Though Motta may not be the replacement of Fabregas, he may add some much needed experience to the midfield. One main disadvantage of Motta is that he is injury prone.

During Inter's treble winning season, he made 40 appearances and scored four goals; while in the last season, he made 29 appearances and scored five goals.

Motta has a £9.25 million release clause, which Wenger will not find it difficult to pay. Motta's agent Alessandro Canovi insists his client has no intention of leaving the San Siro. Motta's agent has also insisted that he has not received any bid from Arsenal.

Motta may not be suited ideally for the Gunners game but we have to see whether Wenger bids for him.

Gary Cahill: Bolton Wanderers

Arsenal's defense was one major area of concern last season and the Gunners fans expected defensive reinforcements to arrive at the Emirates. So far, that has not been the case with Gael Clichy joining Manchester City and no new defensive signings for the Gunners except for Carl Jenkinson.

Gary Cahill was one of the defender to be linked with a move to the Emirates. Being an England international and playing in the Premier League for a long time, Cahill has the experience required by the Gunners at the back.

Bolton Wanderers's manager Owen Coyle has asked Arsenal and Tottenham to either keep up or shut up in their chase for the defender.

In this transfer window, most of the transfer rumours has linked offensive players with Arsenal while the defense should have been the primary criteria. Will Wenger bid the inflated price for the defender? Only Wenger will know!

Karim Benzema: Real Madrid

Arsenal has a lethal striker in Robin Van Persie, who ,when perfectly fit ,is a goal machine! When Van Persie gets injured, Chamakh took his role and had a good first half in the previous season, scoring about a dozen goals.

In the second half, the goals gradually dried up for Chamakh whereas Van Persie broke his record for highest number of goals in a season.

In order to find a suitable striker who can pair up with Van Persie, and keep scoring goals. Benzema has been linked with the Gunners as he is unable to get regular starting opportunities at Real Madrid. 

According to the Daily Mail, Wenger has launched a £27 million bid for the French striker. 

Kevin Doyle has been another transfer target of Wenger. The Republic of Ireland international has an admirer in Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Wolves know they can’t compete with Champions League riches if a suitable offer came in.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has revealed star striker Kevin Doyle "loves it" at Molineux as he responded to speculation of an impending bid from Arsenal.

And Coming to the Gunners Transfer Status: Nasri, Fabregas, Miyaichi

Arsenal has been trying to get work permit for young Japanese winger Ryo Miyaichi in order to allow him to play for the Gunners. The teenager signed for Arsenal in January 2011 and was sent on loan to Feyenoord as he was unable to get a work permit. After his impressive loan spell, Wenger has said that Miyaichi will join the squad in the Gunners preseason tour to the Far East.

As Nasri has not signed a new contract, many clubs including the likes of Manchester United, City and Chelsea have been following the midfielder closely in this transfer window. Arsenal rejected Manchester United's £20 million bid for the Frenchman earlier this week. A price above £25 million may surely tempt the Gunners to sell Nasri.

According to Metro.co.uk, Nasri has been offered £110,000 a week deal to stay at Arsenal. If Nasri accepts this deal, then he will become the highest paid player at the club along with Fabregas.

Fabregas's move to Barcelona seems to be closer to completion this season than the previous season. Last season, Wenger said Fabregas was not for sale whereas this year, the Gunners hierarchy has informed that Fabregas will be sold if any club meets their £40million valuation. Barcelona are sticking to their £31 million evaluation and are ready to wait till the last day of the transfer window.

According to Metro.co.uk, Barcelona are set to tempt Arsenal into accepting a cut-price transfer offer for Cesc Fabregas by throwing either Maxwell or Eric Abidal into the deal. Since Abidal has been a popular figure at the Nou Camp, Maxwell may be involved in a player plus cash deal.

Today, Wenger has stated that he will do whatever he can to keep the duo at Arsenal. Will he be able to succeed in making Nasri and Fabregas stay at Arsenal?