Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on James McCarthy, Moussa Sissoko, More

The search for defensive reinforcements continues for Arsenal, as a wave of injuries has left the squad lacking in depth heading into the January transfer window.

Manager Arsene Wenger was able to halt a losing streak this past Saturday with a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, but with the Gunners currently outside of the European spots in the Premier League standings, help is likely to arrive when the winter window opens in one month.

Holding midfielders and centre-backs is the priority, and it's no wonder those are the exact positions being linked with a move to the Emirates. Here are the latest transfer rumours surrounding the Gunners.

James McCarthy

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Everton midfielder James McCarthy has quietly enjoyed an excellent start to the 2014-15 campaign, and according to the Daily Mail's Simon Jones, Wenger will test the Toffees' resolve with a £16 million bid in January.

The 24-year-old suffered a hamstring injury while playing in the Europa League against Wolfsburg and is expected to be out for several weeks, but as soon as he returns to fitness, the race for his signature is expected to significantly heat up.

Bleacher Report UK's Sam Tighe is a big fan of the Republic of Ireland international, and he believes Wenger should have made his move a lot sooner:

The Liverpool Echo's Tony Scott isn't surprised McCarthy has had a big impact on Everton's results this season:

Known for his impeccable work rate and excellent passing ability, completing over 89 percent of his passes according to WhoScored.com, McCarthy fits Wenger's vision of a gifted technician playing in front of his back four.

Shielding your defence with a quality midfielder is the easiest way to disguise a lack of depth or experience in the back four, and McCarthy would undoubtedly add some much-needed physicality into the Gunners' midfield.

Moussa Sissoko

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Another player who would fit a similar role is Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko, who will be the subject of a £15 million bid, according to the Sunday Times (h/t Daily Star's Nick Lustig).

The 25-year-old has been key to the Magpies' recent resurgence, and his consistent excellent performances saw the Frenchman nominated for the PFA Player of the Month award, per the Newcastle Chronicle's Lee Ryder:

The player is fully aware he has been playing some good football, as he told the Northern Echo's Paul Fraser:

"

Maybe this is the best football of my career, it's true at the moment ... I’m playing well and happy. I will try to continue like this. If we can finish in the top eight, it will be good for me and the team.

It's too early to say whether we can finish fifth or sixth or seventh. We just try to get a lot of points. In the second part of the season, we will see where we can finish.

"

Like McCarthy, Sissoko brings a healthy dose of energy and physicality to the table, and his playing style is sometimes compared to Manchester City's Yaya Toure.

A £15 million offer seems to be on the low side for one of Newcastle's absolute top players, but if Arsenal are using said offer as the starting position for their negotiations, there may be a chance they can convince the Magpies to sell in January.

Tyrone Mings

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The Daily Mail's Rob Shepherd believes Arsenal will make a £8 million offer for Ipswich Town's Tyrone Mings if primary centre-back target Mats Hummels doesn't join the Gunners in January, whether it's because he stays with Borussia Dortmund or joins Manchester United instead.

Die Schwarzgelben are holding out for a £32 million transfer fee, which is believed to be outside of Arsenal's price range, and Mings could present the club with a young and talented backup option.

The 21-year-old may not be the big name fans are hoping for, but the versatile defender is far more talented than people may believe. Former Premier League player Kevin Horlock came away mightily impressed when he took a closer look:

He mainly plays as a left-back for Ipswich but has the body type of a classic centre-back, and he displayed his wide set of skills against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, launching a diagonal ball for the match's only goal that was so impressive, even the team's opponents had to admit it:

Mings has the potential to grow into a very good Premier League contributor, but he's too inexperienced to be an immediate impact player on the highest level. The £8 million offer is steep for what is essentially a prospect, albeit at a position of need.

A move for Mings would be a solid investment, but given Arsenal's defensive needs, other, more accomplished targets should take priority during the summer.

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