Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Reports and Speculation on Gunners' Future Plans

Arsenal will be expected to undergo further transformation during the January transfer window, with the wheels already in motion for the north Londoners to deepen their reserves.

This week's latest speculation sees the Gunners linked with targets from around Europe's elite divisions, each of whom were associated with Arsene Wenger's side over the summer period, with circumstances changing since last week's transfer deadline.

Whether or not that comes to benefit Arsenal when the winter window opens, only time will tell.

Virgil van Dijk

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It's largely supposed that Wenger's main area in need of reinforcements lies in defence, and Celtic's Virgil van Dijk remains on the club's radar as one of their lower-cost options for 2015.

The Daily Mail (h/t Metro) reports a winter move for the Bhoys defender could be in the offing, but manager Ronny Delia isn't keen on the thought of allowing his talisman to leave, per BBC Sport:

"

He is going to stay here and that's the most important thing. He is not here today because there has been a lot of speculation and his head has been thinking a lot. His girlfriend is also pregnant and due soon. So he hasn't had the right focus, he wouldn't have been 100% today - that is why he didn't play.

He is a very important player for us and we have told him that there is no chance he is going to leave. There is no chance we will let him go during this window. We couldn't replace him. He wishes to get to a new stage. He is a young player and a young man and he will get many chances in his career. But now we need him here and he knows that and that is how it is going to be.

"

Delia's comments would appear to suggest the player is fully understanding of his current requirements at the Glasgow club but neither party seems negligent of the idea that a future move is on the cards.

Arsenal weren't the only Premier League side interested this summer, however, and Michiel Jongsma of OptaJohan cited Dutch newspaper Voetbal International in giving an idea of the fee required to sign Van Dijk:

That criteria could change if Celtic are more reluctant to sell midseason but even then the search for Thomas Vermaelen's replacement could fire Wenger into making a swoop for the Dutchman.

Marco Reus

Marco Reus' potential switch to the English capital is a rumour Jurgen Klopp will have grown exhausted in addressing and once again the German's departure from Signal Iduna Park is a topic of discussion leading up to January.

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According to the Daily Star Sunday's Paul Hetherington, Manchester City will vie with the Gunners for a £25 million move this winter, although Klopp has been quoted by German outlet Deutsche Presseagentur (h/t Sky Sports) as being confident in his attacker's future:

“I can tell you I have a great feeling regarding Marco Reus' future at Borussia Dortmund. Marco will definitely be around at our club for quite a while.”

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It's well-founded that Reus could find it difficult to leave his boyhood club for the second time in his career, but with a £20 million release clause set to activate next summer, per Colin Harvey of the Daily Star, the Black and Yellows could cash in for an optimal fee in January.

As one of the most sought-after talents in European football, Reus will have plenty of suitors should his availability become known, their best-case scenario being that a bidding war erupts around his signature.

Adrien Rabiot

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Paris Saint-Germain have fuelled speculation that youngster Adrien Rabiot could leave their ranks this winter after the midfielder was omitted from their Champions League squad.

Anthony Chapman of the Express noted that Rabiot's absence indicates the club aren't willing to waste selection spots on assets lacking in long-term potential, owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi was quoted as saying:

"We talked about Rabiot with Roma and other clubs. But we did not come to any agreement. I love the kid—I think he's a great player and I want him to stay. I have tried to get him to renew his contract, but without success. He wants to leave."

Considering the player will have just six months remaining on his PSG deal come January, the Ligue 1 champions could be willing to sell for a cut-price fee, but Metro reports that Roma lead the chase:

Wenger's preference of purchasing young talent would suggest that a move for Rabiot could come to fruition, with Rabiot possessing the potential to add a midfield alternative with the promise of benefiting their ranks for years to come.