Arsenal Transfer News: Joao Moutinho Hunt Stepped Up, Latest on Petr Cech

Joao Moutinho has reportedly handed in a transfer request at Monaco, providing Arsene Wenger with a potential option as he looks to replace the constantly injured Jack Wilshere.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are said to be interested in the allegedly wantaway Portuguese midfielder, according to David Wright of the Express.

The Gunners could be without Wilshere for four months if ankle surgery is needed after he picked up yet another injury during the side's loss to Manchester United, per Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Wilshere's career continues to be blighted with fitness problems, highlighted by football pundit Richard Keys:

Moutinho would be a quality alternative. The intelligent midfielder remained at Monaco despite the sale of James Rodriguez and loan exit of Radamel Falcao during the summer. The principality side have won just five of their 14 Ligue 1 matches this season and are 11 points behind leaders Marseille.

Wright suggested Moutinho is "frustrated" and looking to play elsewhere, an inevitability in this situation.

Moutinho has scored three times in a combined total of 17 matches across the domestic division and Champions League this season, per WhoScored.com. Wilshere has one goal and an assist in 12, but the pair's other stats are remarkably similar, as noted below:

Stat (per appearance)	Joao Moutinho	Jack Wilshere
Pass success rate	81.4%	80.5%
Shots	0.6	1.1
Tackles	1.7	1.6
Interceptions	1.1	0.8
Clearances	0.7	0.8
Blocks	0.3	0.1
Fouls committed	1.2	1.4
Times fouled	1.7	2.1
Dribbles completed	1	2.2
Dispossessed	0.5	0.7
Average WhoScored Rating	7.04	6.73

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Wenger would likely be berated for bringing such a player in, however. Arsenal need a defensive destroyer, someone physical to impose themselves on the match.

Moutinho works hard in his own half but isn't the powerful presence desired. He falls into the ball-playing category Wenger's squad already possesses in abundance, but if Wilshere's problems are to continue, he would at least adhere to Arsenal's tried and tested formula.

Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Marcelo Brozovic is said to be another option. A "memorable bid" is needed to capture the combative player's signature, however, as noted by Dinamo boss Zdravko Mamic, per Sportski.net (h/t Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star).

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The aforementioned report suggested Besiktas are currently favourites to capture the 22-year-old. Sky Italia's Gianluca Di Marzio indicated Dinamo want €8 million for his signature, with AC Milan already offering half that sum.

Football writer Jonathan Wilson recently highlighted Wenger's "bewildering" decision not to sign a defensive midfielder already, as told to B/R UK's Ryan Bailey:

Quality improvements are needed in January. Petr Cech continues to be linked with the club, despite Chelsea recently ruling out the goalkeeper's sale:

Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star provided quotes from Viktor Kolar, Cech's agent, who suggested the veteran stopper may wait until the end of the season before calling time on his Stamford Bridge tenure:

"

In the football world you can never rule out anything definitively, however, if you put together the facts with Petr's ambitions of a top-class goalkeeper, you will not be left with too many options. 

If we add to this the actual little need of these few clubs to search a new goalkeeper in the winter's transfer window, then you will find out that the chance of a transfer in the next weeks or months is not very high.

"

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Signing a goalkeeper shouldn't be Arsenal's focus right now, despite injuries to both Wojciech Szczesny and David Ospina.

The gaps in midfield are amplified by Wilshere's continued absence and have been exploited by Anderlecht, Swansea City and United in recent weeks. This will only continue until there is someone sturdy to balance Arsenal's play.