Arsenal Transfer News: Loic Perrin Claims Talks, Latest Sami Khedira Rumours

Saint-Etienne captain Loic Perrin has revealed he has been contacted by Arsenal regarding a potential January transfer move to the Emirates, as the Gunners move closer to adding some much-needed defensive help to their squad.

The 29-year-old centre-back has been linked with a move to the Gunners since December, and as reported by talkSPORT, he confirmed the rumours are more than just empty chatter: "I have been contacted personally (by Arsenal). Arsenal is interested but for now there is still no contact with my club."

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

Les Verts have reportedly set a £8 million price tag on their captain, who missed out on a selection for France's 2014 World Cup squad despite his excellent 2013-14 campaign with Saint-Etienne.

The veteran defender anchored the club's defence with a series of impressive performances and was awarded a spot on WhoScored.com's European Team of the Season as the highest-rated centre-back:

At the time, the decision not to select Perrin for the French squad was heavily scrutinised, and Bleacher Report's Andrew Gibney disagreed with Didier Deschamps' gamble to pick youngster Eliaquim Mangala over the experienced veteran:

"

When picking his 23-man squad, there is little doubt Deschamps had one eye on building toward the 2016 European Championships. That decision backs up the selection of 23-year-old Mangala. He is part of a really talented group of players the same age, and in two years’ time, France will have a very exciting squad all reaching their peak at the same time.

However, if you are looking at a player’s form over the last 12 months, there are very few players who deserve a call-up more than Perrin.

"

Perrin is a natural centre-back but has experience playing as a right-back and holding midfielder as well, making him an even better fit for Arsenal, who have been plagued by defensive injuries all season.

His proficiency at scoring from set pieces—six goals in Ligue 1 last season, via WhoScored—is another big weapon that would serve him well in the Premier League.

Perrin might not be the most exciting name on the transfer market, but for a relatively small investment, Arsenal could soon be adding an experienced, versatile defender who could help out in multiple areas. As far as January additions go, Perrin is as solid as they come.

Le Parisien (h/t 101 Great Goals' Benjamin Newman) believes Paris-Saint-Germain have joined the race to sign long-term Arsenal target Sami Khedira, with the French champions eyeing a January move for the Germany international.

David Ramos/Getty Images

The star midfielder still hasn't put pen to paper on a new contract, and via Eurosport.com, that means he's on track to become a free agent during the summer:

Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti remains adamant Khedira won't leave the club until summer, via ESPN FC, and plenty of interested clubs are likely hoping they can convince the 27-year-old to join their squad on a free transfer after the current campaign.

The recent performances of Asier Illarramendi and the imminent return of Luka Modric means the Champions League holders have some playing room, and the right offer could tempt them into a sale in January.

Khedira is yet to start a single La Liga match all season but has seen more minutes off the bench in recent weeks, via WhoScored. While he's widely expected to play out his current deal and move on to his next club, he recently stated his desire to stay in the Spanish capital.

In an interview with the Stuttgarter Nachrichten (h/t MailOnline's Joe Ridge), he said: "If we can reach a solution, I’ll be very happy. 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."

Marco Verratti is PSG's designated starter as a deep playmaker, but he doesn't offer the same defensive intensity Khedira does. With Les Parisiens performing below expectations so far in the 2014-15 season, it's not hard to believe manager Laurent Blanc wants to change things up and introduce some new players.

The Gunners must hope the French champions are unsuccessful in their attempts to sign the German if they wish to add Khedira to their squad in the near future. Whether these latest reports will force Arsene Wenger into launching a bid of his own remains to be seen.

Follow @ReverschPass