Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Sami Khedira, Yohan Cabaye and Julian Draxler

Arsene Wenger will have plenty of potential midfield signings available to him when the January transfer window arrives.

Arsenal's need for a specialist holding midfielder—or at least, increased physicality in the middle—has seen Sami Khedira constantly linked with the club. However, he is now reported to be gaining interest from AC Milan and Chelsea, according to Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star.

Khedira has allegedly turned down the option of signing a new contract at Real Madrid, noted in Malata's report, and looks set to be the subject of a winter bidding war between Europe's elite. The German midfielder offers everything Arsenal need: power, tackling ability, control in possession and looks to be a leading candidate to shore up the Premier League side's midfield.

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Another option appears to be opening up in France. Yohan Cabaye was touted for a move to Arsenal before he joined Paris Saint-Germain from Newcastle, but things haven't gone according to plan for the combative midfielder.

He's started just 12 Ligue 1 games since January and continues to be left on the bench or substituted early by Laurent Blanc. Cabaye revealed to L'Equipe he isn't happy with his role and may take look to exit if he continues to be overlooked, as reported by Gerard Brand of the Daily Mail:

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Have I spoken to Laurent Blanc? No. What do I tell him? I am 28 years old and not new to the job. But I am not satisfied with the situation.

Am I completely happy? To be honest, no. It is a new situation for me, but I don't complain. It is the first time I haven't played regularly for my club. With the French team, if one day the national team coach decides to play me less because I don't play often enough for my club, then I would need to take stock with my representatives.

"

Cabaye is a proven star in the Premier League. He would add a sense of grit that is currently missing from the midfield (aside from Mathieu Flamini), but he also possesses the attacking prowess to contribute further forward. It's no coincidence that Newcastle's poor run of form started when Cabaye left, as the Magpies still haven't adequately replaced the former Lille man nearly a year after he departed.

Arsenal could still plump for want-away PSG starlet Adrien Rabiot, however, as tweeted by Jonathan Johnson of ESPN FC:

Nick Lustig of the Daily Star reported a more ambitious approach from the Arsenal boss. He believes Wenger will aim to land Benfica midfielder Anderson Talisca, Khedira and—wait for it—Schalke's Julian Draxler.

Gunners fans will recall last January, when it was widely reported that Draxler would move to north London, only for Wenger to deny negotiations were even happening.

The German youngster is by no means a defensive specialist, but he can slot in anywhere across midfield. His appearance could even allow Mesut Ozil to move centrally and away from his nightmarish stint on the flank. 

Talisca is also attack-minded and wouldn't necessarily fill the relevant gaps for Arsenal. The 20-year-old has scored six goals from seven games in this year's Portuguese championship, per WhoScored.com, but he will need to work on his tackling skills if he's to fulfill the obvious weak point in Wenger's squad.

It would perhaps be irresponsible of the manager to add either player without selling first, as he has an abundance of ball-playing midfielders at his disposal.

Wenger may need to wade through many more options before the window actually opens. Right now, Khedira appears the best bet to tighten things up. He is more than capable of making an instant impact and would be another world-class addition to a team that is missing a couple of vital pieces.

Cabaye would also be a profitable venture for the manager who missed out on him previously. Whether Wenger will splash the cash is another issue, though, as Arsenal's season could once again be defined by his unwillingness to spend in January.