Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Paulo Dybala, Xherdan Shaqiri and More

Paulo Dybala is a young player taking Serie A by storm this season, and naturally, he’s a forward that has commanded plenty of interest from Europe’s elite clubs, including Arsenal. But it’s looking increasingly unlikely that the player’s future will see him move to the Emirates Stadium.

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According to David Wright of the Express, the Gunners were interested in the player, but after hearing Palermo’s reported valuation of £31 million, have decided to turn their attentions elsewhere. 

Those murmurings have subsequently been compounded by reports from tuttomercatoweb.com (h/t Jamie Sanderson of Metro) that claim Liverpool are now the favourites to land the forward, who has notched an impressive seven goals and four assists in 15 Serie A appearances, per WhoScored.com.

Here’s a closer look at why the Gunners were reportedly keen:

Borussia Dortmund have also been linked with the 21-year-old as of late, and Bundesliga expert Clark Whitney highlighted the challenges that would face the Palermo man should he make the switch to Jurgen Klopp’s side, or indeed, any elite level club:

There’s little denying Dybala’s talent, but this is a player who is only just beginning to make good on his potential after a couple of tumultuous years in Italy. With that in mind, a fee of £31 million would be a major gamble for Arsenal. With Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck already in situ, it’s not one they really need to take.

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With the centre-forward position not really a pressing concern for boss Arsene Wenger, expect him to turn his attentions to other positional options in the window. But any hopes of signing winger Xherdan Shaqiri seem to have been dashed by his manager Pep Guardiola, who has insisted the Switzerland international and his team-mate Emile Hojbjerg will still be in Munich after the transfer window shuts.

“I think they will stay,” said the Bayern Munich boss per Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star. “If they want something then they will need to speak to Matthias Sammer.”

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After being heavily linked with the Gunners, it’s the former of the two players that will interest Arsenal supporters, and here’s a look at the kind of talents that Shaqiri would bring to the Emirates:

It’s getting to the stage where it’s imperative Shaqiri gets out of Bayern. The 23-year-old is a wonderful young player, but it’s crucial that he gets first-team football and refines his skill set. In direct contrast to the aforementioned reports, Swiss newspaper Blick thinks Shaqiri will be allowed to leave the Allianz Arena, as noted here by Tor-Kristian Karlsen, who thinks he has plenty to offer:

But from an Arsenal point of view, the requisite requirement of first-team football is not something he’d be guaranteed with the Gunners either. Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all be vying for spots in that team, meaning Shaqiri would face a real fight getting into the starting XI on a regular basis.

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There’s another point to take here, though. It’s clear that this Arsenal squad is overloaded with attacking talent and if Wenger is to bolster in January, it’s vital he looks at more defensively-minded options. Here, ESPN’s Janusz Michallik tells Bleacher Report what would constitute a perfect window for Arsenal:

With those kinds of targets in mind, perhaps Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic would represent a much more sensible option for Wenger’s men. And according to Vecernji.hr, (h/t Jamie Sanderson of Metro), the Gunners have been granted permission to speak to the Dinamo Zagreb man after having a bid accepted.

Here’s a glimpse at what Brozovic is all about:

According to Sanderson’s piece, the 22-year-old has been dubbed the “Croatian Xavi” in keeping with his astute playmaking abilities. Brozovic is capable of operating at the base of the midfield, though, and he has the physicality and defensive awareness to complement his intricate skills with the ball.

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He’s not a player who is an immediate fix to Arsenal’s defensive problems, but he fits the bill for the kind of targets Wenger insisted he was looking at in January:

Brozovic still has a lot to learn and playing in a division as unforgiving as the Premier League would be a steep learning curve for him. Potentially he could be a long-term solution for the Gunners' perennial problems in that area of the pitch, but if Arsenal want a quick-fix and a player that will spur them on to glories come the end of the campaign, the Croatian is not the answer.