Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Teddy Bishop and Ilkay Gundogan

Arsene Wenger will come under pressure to sign reinforcements this January, with Ipswich Town midfielder Teddy Bishop joining Ilkay Gundogan on the Arsenal manager's list of priorities.

According to The Sun (h/t Telegraph), the Gunners wills have to battle against Manchester United to sign the 18-year-old, with Tractor Boys boss Mick McCarthy quoted as saying of his youngster:“Teddy is attracting almost as much attention as Tyrone.”

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The player McCarthy alludes to is defender Tyrone Mings, whom the Telegraph's report mentions is also on Wenger's shortlist this winter.

Bishop has impressed in his maiden campaign among Ipswich's senior ranks, having only made his debut for the first team during a Capital One Cup clash back in August.

Injuries to Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey of late have again highlighted the need for further depth in Arsenal's midfield, with Wenger eyeing more youth to fill that need.

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The Gunners helmsman has always held an affinity for buying talent young, but given their need for immediate impact, some of the club's fans may look to sign a more accomplished playmaker.

Despite Bishop's lack of experience, The Sun's Tom Barclay ranks the teenager as a highly promising candidate:

However, the preference for Arsenal right now is to sign a more defensively inclined central figure, a role that Borussia Dortmund's Gundogan may be deemed fit to play.

The German international has endured a torrid 18 months of injury woes, but Anthony Chapman of the Express says the Black and Yellows are now ready to cash in on their midfielder.

Chapman quotes the anchorman as previously stating his desire to play in the England top flight, proclaiming: "Playing outside Germany is one of my big goals. If one day I leave here, I'd like to play in Spain or for one of the big teams in England."

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Last April, Gundogan delayed any fears of a 2015 Westfalenstadion exit by penning a one-year contract extension that ties him to the German giants until the end of the 2015-16 campaign.

However, rather than risk seeing the midfielder depart for free at that juncture, Dortmund may opt to sell now. Ex-United States international Janusz Michallik recently spoke with Bleacher Report's Ryan Bailey to discuss Arsenal's ideal January window, in which a defender is seen as priority:

Gundogan's arrival would help in providing a much-needed boost in defensive midfield cover, although there's no mention as to how much the playmaker would cost the Gunners.

Wenger's target has made 12 appearances under Jurgen Klopp across all competitions this season, and with Dortmund currently sitting 17th in the Bundesliga, he may be among those tempted to make a 2015 departure.