Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Buzz Surrounding Gunners' January Plans

After a few big signings and a deadline-day deal, the need for new arrivals never ceases at the Emirates Stadium with Arsenal chasing Premier League royalty.

Injuries have taken a toll on Arsene Wenger's squad through the early parts of the season, and struggles from certain positions can increase the need for reinforcements. Just as well, the club have a never-ending quest to snatch young, budding talent from other clubs to fill their depth for the coming years.

Many of their moves will have to wait until January's transfer window, but some already have begun to crop up in the news. Let's take a look at the targets Arsenal are planning to go after entering the next transfer window.

Clinton N'Jie

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The Gunners are keeping a close eye on Cameroon youngster and Olympique Lyon striker Clinton N'Jie as the season gets underway, the Sunday People reported on Sunday.

Just 21 years of age, N'Jie has appeared in all six of Lyon's Ligue 1 games this season—starting one and substituting on in the other five. He notched his first career league assist in Lyon's 1-1 draw to PSG on Sunday.

The Sunday People added in its report that N'Jie is seen as "a successor to Samuel Eto'o" in the Cameroonian attack, and if he pans out anything like him, it won't be long before suitors are lining up in droves.

The need for a game-changing striker in north London has been apparent since the days of Robin van Persie, and a traditional lack of depth at the position would make targeting a young option serviceable. It may be a few years until N'Jie is Premier League ready, but it wouldn't hurt to be the first club to lock him down.

Chris Smalling

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The hits just keep coming for Arsenal's defensive unit, and it might force Wenger's hand at chasing a distant target.

Chris Smalling was almost Arsenal-bound back in 2010 before he instead went to Manchester United, and he could be bound for the Emirates again, according to Rob Draper of the Daily Mail. 

It could prove to be a deal easier said than done, however, as Draper explains: "United might be sensitive to a deal perceived to be helping Arsenal’s situation, given the criticism the club received for letting Danny Welbeck joining Arsenal for £16m on transfer deadline day and the fact the two clubs are likely to be battling for Champions League places."

There is no doubt the Gunners are reeling after the loss of Mathieu Debuchy, with the Daily Telegraph's Phillip Cadden reporting the newly acquired French defender could be out for up to three months. While it's usually hard to look months in advance for a replacement in the January window, such a deal would benefit Arsenal if Debuchy's injury is long-term.

Arsenal pulled a major coup by being able to snatch Danny Welbeck from United just before the transfer deadline, so perhaps the Red Devils will be hesitant to help a club they're currently chasing for a Champions League spot. Then again, the right price could make all the difference.

Adrien Rabiot

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Arsenal is apparently high on young talent dwelling in the French league, as they have circled another Ligue 1 youngster on their holiday wish list.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot is being courted again by Wenger and Co., according to the Daily Mirror's John Cross, a player whom they could not secure last summer after failed negotiations with the French champs.

The 19-year-old's contract is up this coming summer, prompting PSG to move swiftly to keep the youngster, but it may be ill advised, as Cross noted:

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PSG are trying to sign Rabiot to a new long term contract to stop him leaving on the cheap.

But Arsenal may be able to offer him more opportunities as PSG have spent big in recent seasons and there has been internal conflict at the French club about not giving home grown players a chance.

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Rabiot would still have his work cut out for him to earn a squad spot in the near future, with a number of stars and a wealth of quality players in the midfield. But there's no doubt that the Gunners could give him more run than PSG.

However, Cross also reported that Italian clubs Roma, AC Milan and Juventus are also interested in Rabiot.

Acquiring young talent is a constant struggle for top-flight Premier League clubs, and it can prove impossibly tough for a player on the radars of many world-class clubs. When that's the case, it becomes a bidding war—not exactly the situation that Wenger and Arsenal have thrived in.