Arsenal Transfer News: Cheick Tiote Could Be on His Way to the Emirates

The Daily Mail is reporting that Arsene Wenger is very keen to sign Newcastle and Ivory Coast defensive midfielder before the end of the transfer window this week.

The Gunners have, despite losing Alex Song and Robin van Persie, done a terrific job of strengthening the side going forward this summer.

Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and the highly rated Santi Cazorla have all found their way to the Emirates over the course of the transfer window and, despite a shaky start to the season from Arsenal, will no doubt more than fill the void that van Persie and Song have left behind.

However, with attacking signing after attacker signing, Arsenal fans may be happy to see that Wenger has wisely turned his attention to bringing in a more defensive-minded player this season.

Tiote was one of the stand out players during the 2011-12 Premier League, helping Newcastle rise to the dizzying heights of fifth in the league, missing out narrowly on a Champions League place on the final day of the campaign.

Alan Pardew is asking £20m for his star midfielder, but Wenger believes that the 26-year-old can be tempted to the Emirates for just £15m.

If the Gunners can snag Tiote for this amount, it will be a relative steal and an extremely well-played move on the part of the Arsenal boss.

Should the deal for Tiote not come to fruition for the Gunners, then their fans have no cause for alarm.

Yann M'vila is one of the most up-and-coming defensive midfielders in the world right now, and would be more than decent cover should the Toon Army refuse to give up one of their best players.

It seems inevitable that Arsenal will be signing a new DM this summer. The only question is which one, Tiote or M'vila?

Either player would make what should be a very promising season for Arsenal, into a possible title-winning one.

They just need to get the goals flowing!