Arsenal Transfer News: Major Mats Hummels Progress Reported, Latest on Pedro

Arsene Wenger failed to adequately strengthen his Arsenal squad during the last January window, but reports indicate he is already making major process in the hunt for Mats Hummels and Pedro ahead of this season's winter market.

Spanish publication Fichajes, reported via Metro, suggests the Gunners are in "advanced" talks with Borussia Dortmund over Hummels' transfer. The German international has long been linked with a move to Manchester United, but it is said Arsenal are "closing in" on his acquisition.

Wenger's side have suffered a slew of defensive injury problems this season and struggle for depth once Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny are ruled out. The decision to offload Thomas Vermaelen without replacing him with an established star has proven to be unwise, as youngster Calum Chambers has been forced to play centrally and at right-back to fill the gaps.

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Hummels recently admitted he will only leave the Westfalenstadion for a club who utilise his preferred style of football. "If a club with a bigger reputation than Dortmund were to make a move, but I don't like the way they play football, I wouldn't even consider a move," he said, per Kicker and via Stefan Coerts of Goal.com.

Arsenal's style isn't too far away from that of Jurgen Klopp's Dortmund, perhaps why the German manager is considered one of the top candidates to succeed Wenger by many. Both teams like to dictate possession with fast passes, and both funnel their counters through speedy wingers. Hummels is often used to start play from the back and could further improve Arsenal's flow.

Whether Wenger needs to spend £31.5 million on a centre-back, noted in Metro's report, is questionable. Mertesacker and Koscielny deserve to be the side's starting pair and have rarely threatened to see their partnership dislodged. Hummels would likely knock one out of the team, most likely his German colleague, but Wenger has other priorities he needs to spend big on.

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While Arsenal certainly need a new defender, a mid-priced centre-back should be preferable. The club must find a combative defensive midfielder and would be wise to add a poacher to their forward line.

Numbers are well stacked elsewhere, but that hasn't stopped Metro reporting the club have "allegedly opened talks" with Barcelona over a £25 million move for Pedro. It is said Liverpool are also interested by Fichajes, per an alternative Metro report, and that Wenger is ready to rescue the Spaniard from his placing below Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez at the Camp Nou.

Liverpool's reported interest has spanned months, but Wenger's urgency could see this one through. The boss was influential in persuading Mesut Ozil to join the club and is excellent at making players feel wanted. Pedro needs this type of affection right now, despite the plethora of wide attacking stars already available at the Emirates.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague recently told B/R UK's Ryan Bailey why there is no chance of Pedro joining Arsenal at the next available opportunity:

Both reported targets would add proven quality to Arsenal's ranks, but Wenger needs to be smart during the upcoming window.

Improvements are needed, no doubt about it. With that said, it's the heart of midfield which currently lets Arsenal's play down. There's a lack of physicality and bite, leaving powerful opponents the chance to dominate until muscle is added. Chambers could move into midfield with the arrival of Hummels, while Ozil or Alexis Sanchez could take on a more central role if Pedro is captured.

Wenger has so often run out of tactical options over the years, but can provide himself a wider scope of opportunity if he adds a couple of extra pieces to a side who continue to show little promise of closing the nine-point chasm between fifth and Premier League leaders Chelsea.