Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Sami Khedira, Paulo Dybala, Thierry Henry, More

Arsenal have been given a boost in their seemingly never-ending pursuit of Sami Khedira, with the latest reports suggesting the Real Madrid midfielder's price tag has been lowered.

The Gunners have been linked with the German since the summer, but the rumours surrounding his availability have been murky with his Madrid contract expiring next summer.

However, according to Fichajes.net (h/t Metro's Jamie Sanderson), Arsenal are very much still looking to sign up the 27-year-old with Los Blancos set to accept £6 million for him in January rather than lose him for free at the season's end.

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Most reports up until now had suggested a figure of around £10 million, per Pete Jenson in the Daily Mail. 

Khedira recently admitted that his future at the Bernabeu is uncertain despite suggesting he is happy in Madrid, per Marca:

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Everyone knows my contract is up in June. I have a smooth relationship with the club. I'm very happy in Madrid and I'm not reluctant to stay. I haven't had any contact with other clubs. I'm intrigued about my future myself.

"

Arsene Wenger would do well to pounce on this uncertainty and persuade Khedira away from the Bernabeu as the World Cup winner could add a significant amount of steel to an Arsenal midfield currently lacking such an attribute. 

As Metro highlighted, the recent long-term injuries to Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta have left the Gunners very short in the defensive midfield area and should force Wenger to bring in new recruits in January:

However, even with a full complement of players, Arsenal lack a truly world-class deep-lying midfielder. The purchase of Khedira would change that and would likely see them vastly improve on their current inconsistent form this season.

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Paulo Dybala is another player who is reportedly on Arsenal's radar, and the £31 million-rated Palermo striker recently expressed a desire to play for the Gunners, per Colin Harvey in the Daily Star:

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To know that someone like that thinks highly of me fills me with pride. I can't deny that going to Arsenal and playing in the Premier League would be great, but at the moment I'm a Palermo player.

"

The 21-year-old Argentine has really begun to make an impact in Serie A this season, scoring six times and assisting twice in 13 league matches so far, per WhoScored.com.

Of Arsenal's current attacking crop, only Alexis Sanchez boasts a better scoring record this season, per BBC Sport.

Dybala's price tag is likely to make Wenger nervous of going in for the youngster, but he is only going to improve and could be a star for Arsenal in the future. Italian football expert James Horncastle is certainly very positive about the player in the Guardian:

Thierry Henry may well be set for a famous return to Arsenal in a coaching capacity after leaving New York Red Bulls, and his former Gunners team-mate Ray Parlour is backing him to take over at the Emirates one day, per talkSPORT's Alex Varney:

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I think he will definitely get involved with Arsenal. I certainly believe, one day, if he really wants to be a manager, he will be manager of Arsenal.

"

Arsenal's inconsistent form this season has seen some fans calling for Wenger to step down as manager, per bet365; however, it seems highly unlikely that the veteran Frenchman will be on his way any time soon:

However, if Henry were to enter the coaching fold under Wenger and gain some experience, Parlour's suggestion that he could eventually take over in the Arsenal top job is certainly not out of the question and would likely be a very popular idea among the Gunners faithful considering Henry's legendary status at the club. 

Great players do not always make great managers, but under the tutelage of Wenger, Henry's intelligence on the pitch seemingly could translate well to the touchline. 

Finally, there have also been recent reports linking Arsenal with a move for Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin in January, with David Wright in the Express suggesting the Gunners are lining up a £15 million bid for the Frenchman. 

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Similarly to Khedira, defensive midfielder Schneiderlin is exactly the type of player the Gunners need: to protect the back four, interrupt opposition attacks and distribute the ball from deep.

Arsenal are currently lacking in defensive areas and have made a habit recently of throwing away vital leads through a lack of organisation and concentration.

Wenger needs to make some additions in January that will shore up the defence, and he could do a lot worse than to start with either Schneiderlin or Khedira, both of whom look to be good value considering what they would bring to the club.