Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Sami Khedira, Edinson Cavani and More

Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are reportedly ready to combat Arsenal for the January signing of unwanted Real Madrid star Sami Khedira, who is ready to "force a move" from the Spanish giants.

John Cross of the Mirror indicates Khedira "fancies a move to the Premier League," while outlining Chelsea and Liverpool's potential attempts to hijack a deal that Arsenal could have completed in the summer.

Paul Clennam of Goal.com believes United "are plotting" to swoop in with a £10 million bid, which could satisfy Madrid's expectations considering Khedira can leave for free next summer.

A player of his quality isn't available so cheaply on a regular basis, thus ensuring plenty of interest should follow the 27-year-old if he doesn't sign a new deal. Both Arsenal and United are desperate for a specialist defensive midfielder and would do excellently to snap Khedira up.

His well-rounded game and natural tackling ability could also fit in under Jose Mourinho or Brendan Rodgers, whose squads are better stacked with those who can shield the defence.

Khedira's movements continue to grab headlines during a time in which he is recovering from injury, which is the sign of a player who could make a significant difference in the Premier League.

According to Hamish Mackay of the Daily Mail, Newcastle United's Cheick Tiote said he wants to leave St. James Park and Arsenal have been in contact. He was quoted as saying he needs a "new challenge," hinting that January could be the time to call time on his Magpies career.

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Lee Ryder of local newspaper The Chronicle provides a comment which suggests Tiote's interview may have been spun out of context:

Either way, Tiote should be considered a reputable target for Wenger.

The manager may need to dismiss one of his current stars to make room for a new signing, with Lukas Podolski among those speculated to go.

Podolski has hinted he isn't content with being a peripheral figure in Wenger's squad. The German World Cup winner has endured a frustrating two years at the Emirates which have seen him rarely nail down a consistent place in the starting line-up.

He is also pushed wide during most of his performances, when he would prefer to play through the centre.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Speaking to television channel RTL (h/t Reuters, theguardian.com) Podolski indicated he will look to move on soon.

"I am a full-blooded player, a street player and I love competition," said the former Bayern Munich star. "If I don't have this competition every weekend then a change must occur."

BBC Sport tweeted that the experienced forward could leave before his contract finishes:

Podolski's potential departure could force Wenger into making a major attacking signing. Alex Harris of the Daily Star believes Arsenal are "leading the way" to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani, who is also said to be disappointed with a wide role.

According to Le Parisien (h/t Harris), former PSG goalkeeper Jerome Alonzo believes Cavani is "sad," saying "his eyes no longer sparkle" in such a position. Wenger rarely plays two strikers up front together, so if Cavani were to arrive, either he or Danny Welbeck would see themselves pushed away from the middle.

Welbeck suffered this frustration at Manchester United, but showed exactly what he can do in a striker's role with a hat-trick against Galatasaray on Wednesday. 

Wenger certainly has the basis of a top-quality squad but needs a couple of specialist signings—most notably, that elusive defensive midfielder—to improve Arsenal's edge.

Players of Khedira and Cavani's ilk would do this. It's been too long since the Gunners have launched a genuine title challenge, which would be something Wenger can fuel by ridding the club of unneeded players and replacing them with proven stars.