Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Pedro and Marco Reus as January Budget Named

Arsene Wenger will reportedly be given £20 million in the January transfer window in order to reverse Arsenal's fortunes as their inconsistent season continues.

A 2-1 loss to Swansea on Sunday capped off a poor week in which the Gunners also threw away a 3-0 lead to draw against Anderlecht in the Champions League.

Sami Mokbel in the Daily Mail reports Wenger will be using his £20 million to buy a new central defender and potentially a holding midfielder, as Arsenal's weaknesses at the back have been obvious this season.

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However, it seems that the Frenchman may also be looking to strengthen elsewhere with Anthony Chapman in the Express reporting a planned swoop for long-term attacking target Pedro from Barcelona:

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The winger is set to leave the Nou Camp following the arrival of Luis Suarez, and Wenger has already put plans in place to secure his signature in a lucrative deal worth £24m after moving for team-mate Alexis Sanchez during the summer.

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Certainly if Pedro were to prove as effective as his Chilean former teammate—Sanchez has scored eight goals in 10 Premier League appearances this season per WhoScored.com—he would be an excellent buy.

But it does seem as though defensive recruitments should be the priority over splashing out on attacking players when the Gunners already have the likes of Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott.

Against both Anderlecht and Swansea, Arsenal threw away leads and their vulnerability at the back is really hurting them thus far this season, far more than any attacking problems, per the Mirror's John Cross:

Additional strength and depth in the centre of defence are vital after Wenger failed to replace Thomas Vermaelen in the summer. The likes of Aston Villa's Ron Vlaar or West Ham’s Winston Reid—both Gunner targets, according to Mokbel—should be the priority in January, per Bleacher Report UK's Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas:

The exception would be for the potential signing of a genuine superstar, and Arsenal have long been linked—along with many others—to such a player in Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus, per David Wright in the Express.

However, the German midfielder has reportedly snubbed a move to the Emirates as he wishes to be at a club where he can win trophies—Arsenal's recent FA Cup win being their first silverware since 2005—per Charlie Wyett in The Sun.

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Reus has suffered from consistent injury problems recently but is undoubtedly a world-class player and has scored twice and claimed two assists in six Bundesliga games so far this term, per WhoScored.

It is unsurprising that Reus reportedly wants to be at a club where he is likely to win trophies, with Bayern Munich or Real Madrid likely destinations for the 25-year-old, per Spanish football journalist Rafael Hernandez:

Wenger is also reportedly looking at adding strength at left-back in the shape of Ipswich Town's Tyrone Mings, who is valued at £10 million, per Mel Henderson in the Mirror.

Though the 21-year-old clearly has talent, Wenger would be taking a big risk in signing a player who is not proven in any way at Premier League level.

Arsenal need solidity, experience and poise in the centre of defence and they need it soon. The priority in January must be a new central defender who has the authority to deal with an often disorganised back line.