Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of January 6

It's that time of year again: The transfer window is open, and speculation is rampant.

Arsenal are always the subject of much January chatter, and this year will be no different. The only distinction between this season and previous seasons is that the Gunners need to reinforce their squad to stay atop the Premire League table—not to merely qualify for the Champions League.

Here we track all the biggest rumors of the week. 

Diego Costa

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Atletico Madrid's prolific striker has been linked with Arsenal for some time now, and the rumor has always been a bit hopeful.

However, after Theo Walcott's ACL injury, perhaps it is a bit more plausible.

Costa has been in excellent form this season, scoring 19 goals for Atletico and keeping them level on points with Barcelona, who are only leading La Liga on goal difference.

As a result, Arsenal could be willing to shell out over £30 million for Costa, according to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail.

That number seems a bit insane considering the price they paid for Mesut Ozil only a few months ago, but a title seems so close. 

Mario Mandzukic

Alex Grimm/Getty Images

Bayern Munich's tank of a striker has only been mentioned in conjunction with Arsenal's need for a striker in the last couple days—just as Theo Walcott's injury left Arsenal short on numbers.

Everything about the rumor seems completely manufactured. The Guardian says Arsene Wenger has "hinted" at his interest in Mandzukic, but there is no evidence that the Arsenal boss has considered making a bid.

Furthermore, why would Bayern sell him? He is the focal point of their attack, and Pep Guardiola sold Mario Gomez last summer to make more room for Mandzukic.

Don't believe this one at all. 

Dimitar Berbatov

Steve Bardens/Getty Images

Arsene Wenger has taken one of the most believable rumors to have cropped up during the transfer window and buried it.

The Daily Mail reports that Dimitar Berbatov is aching to leave struggling Fulham, and has already pinpointed Arsenal as the club at which he most wants to land.

It makes sense: The Gunners play in the same city as Fulham and desperately need a striker who can score goals without any other nonsense.

However, Wenger has denied Berbatov is one of the players on his radar.

That might simply be a bluff—either way, we will have to wait and see if Berbatov is the player Wenger wants to fill the short-term void.