Arsenal Transfer News: Sami Khedira January Deal 'Likely', Latest Major Rumours

Arsenal have been urged to sign Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira by former star Robert Pires, who labelled a January deal "likely."

Nick Lustig of the Daily Star reports that the two-time Premier League league winner believes Khedira is vital to Arsene Wenger's pursuit of silverware, with the team needing a dominant figure in the centre of the park.

And Pires believes the player will leave Real Madrid and join the Gunners, per Lustig:

"

He reminds me of Patrick Vieira, maybe they have an opportunity with Khedira. It is likely in the January window. He played very well with Germany. My advice is if he can buy Khedira he can be the [new] Vieira, more aggression in the middle.

He has a lot of experience. When you play in the middle you need experience, especially when your midfield is young like Arsenal's.

"

Fabrizio Bensch/Associated Press

Khedira missed a large part of Madrid's charge toward La Decima last season and has further fallen down the pecking order in the Spanish capital after the arrival of international colleague Toni Kroos. 

Lustig states Khedira will be a free agent next summer and that Galactico supremo Florentino Perez does not want to lose the German for free. That means a deal is likely in January, and Arsenal can make their move.

Despite his injury, Khedira showed at the World Cup what an important figure he can cut as his side stormed toward victory in Brazil. 

Arsenal are in desperate need of a more combative and experienced midfielder, and Khedira's skill set fits the bill for the north London side.

Stan Collymore of TalkSport and Bleacher Report recently urged Wenger to get a deal done at the first possible opportunity.

But John Cross of the Mirror is not so sure the player is the right choice:

Cross has a point about Khedira's time on the treatment table, but if the player is back to full fitness, he would be a top-class purchase. Wenger needs a player of Khedira's passing ability to complement his attacking midfielders, giving defensive cover where needed without affecting the overall balance of the side.

There was less pleasing news elsewhere for Arsenal after former target Georginio Wijnaldum heaped praise on former coach Louis van Gaal.

The PSV Eindhoven player has been a target of Wenger and Manchester United, but it seems Wijnaldum would prefer a reunion with LvG, per Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star: "He [Louis van Gaal] will always be special to me."

The player performed well for the Netherlands at the World Cup, and United could make a move for the midfielder in the next transfer window. Wijnaldum has featured 10 times for PSV this term, scoring twice, per WhoScored.com.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

In other news, Arsenal are tipped by TalkSport to make a move for Spanish international Pedro in January. The report states that the player almost joined the Gunners in the summer, and Wenger might move for the 27-year-old in the months to come.

Pedro's spot in the Barcelona team is at threat due to the arrival of Luis Suarez, and Arsenal would fit the player's style. 

Pedro and Wijnaldum are good footballers, but Khedira is the vital cog missing at Arsenal. He would give Wenger the platform his team need to challenge for the title, and he would add the kind of talent the Gunners sorely miss. 

If Wenger does not move for Khedira in January, Madrid will surely sell him to another club. He is too good a player to sit on the bench of any football club.