Arsenal Transfer News: Top Rumours Circling Gunners on Christmas Day 2014

Throughout the early years of his Arsenal tenure, Arsene Wenger made something of a reputation for himself by plucking talent from the French top flight, and there have been reports linking the Gunners with similar moves in the upcoming window. 

Indeed, former Arsenal player Perry Groves has implored the Gunners to go out and sign Monaco's Geoffrey Kondogbia, a midfielder he has likened to former skipper Patrick Vieira.

Per Kieran Beckles of The Sport Review:

"

I’d probably go for a player at Monaco called Geoffrey Kondogbia.

He is a French international about 21. He played against us during a pre-season tournament at The Emirates and he is nearest I’ve seen to Patrick Vieira.

He is the kind of player we [Arsenal] need.

"

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There is certainly plenty to like about the Monaco man. Kondogbia is a very athletic player and has unyielding energy. Most importantly for Arsenal, his primary instincts are defensive. The latter of those qualities is something that is currently in very short supply at the base of the Gunners’ intricate but far too accommodating midfield.

As noted earlier in the season by French football expert Jonathan Johnson, the former Sevilla man is pretty good with the ball at his feet too:

Here’s a closer look at what he could potentially bring to the Emirates:

Arsenal have been linked with swathes of holding midfield men in the run-up to this January window, and it’s certainly an area of the team they need to bolster if they’re to challenge for honours in the latter stages of the campaign.

Unfortunately for the Gunners, the French international looks to be out of reach in January.

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Monaco are struggling domestically. However, they are into the knockout stages of the Champions League and will of course face the Gunners.

With that in mind, the French outfit will be very reluctant to sell one of their finest young players, although Wenger will be able to get a good look at him should he decide to heed Groves’ words.

Another player that looks unlikely to be rocking up at the Emirates any time soon is Lyon sensation Alexandre Lacazette.

The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to the Gunners in the past, per David Wright of the Daily Express, and he has attracted plenty of attention with a string of effervescent performances this season. 

Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press

However, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has told L'Equipe (h/t Jack Lang of the Daily Mirror) that they will not be selling their prized asset any time soon:

"

I've made up my mind: we're not selling

A big offer may come in, but it's a question of strategy. We have just invested more than €400million on a new stadium and it would make no sense to sell our best players, who can bring us Champions League football.

"

It would be easy to see why Lacazette is a potential target for the Gunners. The striker is enjoying a phenomenal scoring campaign, after all. He has netted 17 goals in 19 Ligue 1 games, per WhoScored.com, and he leads the line with distinction for this young, progressive Lyon side.

They are currently flying high in second place in France’s top flight.

As noted by French football expert James Eastham, the forward has been the standout player in the division so far this season:

Lacazette is a local lad and a product of Lyon’s revered youth academy. He has previously insisted he would love to stay at the club for life, provided they can match his ambitions, per Wright’s aforementioned piece—and you have to say, should this current crop stay together, Hubert Fournier’s team will have no problem achieving Champions League qualification.

From an Arsenal perspective, Lacazette would cost a sizeable amount, and it would be money spent in an area in which they are currently very well stocked.

With that in mind, players in the mould of Kondogbia and a few talents who can bolster the club’s back line should be the order of the day for Wenger in January when the transfer window rolls around.