Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Sergio Ramos, Sami Khedira, Edinson Cavani Rumours

Arsenal’s bid to bolster their defensive options has reportedly primed the Gunners to make an ambitious enquiry for Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos.

That’s according to Manolete of AS (h/t Tom Conn of InsideSpanishFootball.com), who told La Goleada that Arsene Wenger personally contacted the player’s agent and brother Rene Ramos about a potential deal. Conn’s piece claims that Ramos and Real have suffered a breakdown in contract extension talks.

Here’s a look at the kind of qualities Ramos would bring to the Emirates, should Arsenal strike a shock deal:

At this juncture, it’s very difficult to see this transfer coming to fruition. After all, Ramos is arguably the standout defender in world football.

While the focus surrounding Madrid is typically hogged by the sensational goalscoring exploits of Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, the defensive side of this team has been vital to the club’s current run of 22 consecutive wins, too.

Ramos is not too shabby in front of goal either, as noted here by The Ancelotti Way:

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Sergio Ramos has 10 goals in 2014. Only Cristiano, Benzema & Bale have more goals than him. pic.twitter.com/BSLciszMSn

— The Ancelotti Way (@TheAncelottiWay) December 22, 2014"

With that in mind, Arsenal have next to no chance of striking a deal. Ramos has emerged as a thoroughbred leader for Los Blancos, and given his huge affinity with the Madridistas, it’s surely only a matter of time before a new deal is agreed.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

The same cannot perhaps be said for another Real man and another reported Arsenal target, Sami Khedira. The German international’s contract is due to expire at the end of the current season, and he has subsequently been linked with a host of Europe’s most illustrious sides. 

But Khedira has told German daily Stuttgarter Nachrichten that he’s hopeful of a deal being struck, per Jose Carlos Menzel of AS:

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If we can reach a solution, I’ll be very happy.

I am back at a good physical level and for that reason, I’m confident that soon I will get more of a chance to play. There are other players in my position but that competition is healthy.

"

David Ramos/Getty Images

Stylistically, Khedira would be a perfect fit for Arsenal, who are severely lacking a robust, physical midfield presence. And looking at the players at Madrid, where Khedira is vying with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Isco and Asier Illarramendi for a spot in the centre of midfield, it’s easy to see the why a move to the Emirates would potentially appeal to the 27-year-old.

Here’s what he could add to Arsenal’s midfield:

Ultimately, you suspect the decision rests with the player in this situation. Real Madrid and Arsenal would both be delighted to have him in the squad, but surely from Khedira’s perspective, a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu would yield more minutes for him.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

If a deal for Khedira didn’t materialise, you suspect Arsenal would pursue other holding midfield players given their dearth of options in that particular position.

One player who has been linked is Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin, per Tony Little of The Sun (subscription required) whom Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe rates very highly indeed:

Another man on the lookout for more action is Edinson Cavani, who has been told he can leave Paris Saint-Germain after a breakdown in the relationship between him and manager Laurent Blanc, according to reports in France (h/t Ben Jefferson of the Express). 

As noted in Jefferson’s piece, this would make Arsenal the big favourites to land Cavani for a reported £50 million fee.

David Ramos/Getty Images

The Uruguayan is rightly revered as one of the world’s top centre-forwards, and here are the kind of things Arsenal supporters could expect from him should a midseason transfer come to fruition:

But before any deal for Cavani is struck, it’s vital that the Gunners reinforce their options in defence and holding midfield.

Wenger already has a host of forward players in what is an offensively loaded squad, and to spend £50 million on another striker while leaving the defensive areas of this team unaddressed would be plain naive on the part of the Arsenal boss.

Cavani is admittedly a class above both Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck—who are capable operators in their own right—but given the aforementioned scarcities in other areas of the pitch and Wenger’s perennial unwillingness to splash the cash in January, this is surely a transfer that won’t happen until the summer window, if at all.