Arsenal Transfer News: Mario Mandzukic Rumours Emerge, Edinson Cavani Latest

Arsenal could do with adding some reinforcements in the January transfer window with defensive issues having plagued an inconsistent 2014-15 season thus far.

However, many of the rumours surrounding the Gunners seem to be linking the north London side to attacking players, with the latest reports suggesting Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic is now a priority target for Arsene Wenger, per Fichajes.net (h/t Jamie Sanderson in Metro).

Although Arsenal currently boast the attacking talents of Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil amongst others, Frenchman Olivier Giroud is their only top-quality out-and-out striker.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

Wenger targeted Mandzukic in the summer but failed to bring in the 28-year-old Croatian international, per Charles Perrin of the Express, and despite the eventual purchases of Sanchez and Welbeck, there is still an argument to suggest an added striker could be valuable at the Emirates.

A striker is most certainly not a priority, though, and a defensive midfielder or centre-back are far more important purchases.

Equally, as European football writer Paul Wilkes suggests on B/R UK, Mandzukic would likely demand a transfer fee of at least £25 million and it is unlikely Atletico would allow him to leave:

The former Bayern Munich man has scored six league goals so far this season, per WhoScored.com, and he is a valuable physical presence in the penalty area with strong finishing abilities.

It is highly unlikely that Atleti would let him go so soon after bringing him in and, even if he is available, Arsenal could spend the money more wisely elsewhere.

It seems that another striker who has been on Arsenal's radar for some time, Paris St-Germain's Edinson Cavani, may be on his way to another Premier League side.

The Uruguayan is reportedly unhappy in France's capital and looking for a way out, but the Ligue 1 holders are demanding he stay until the summer, per Colin Harvey in the Daily Star.

When the summer rolls around, though, reports indicate Manchester United, not Arsenal, are in prime position to sign Cavani, with a permanent Red Devils deal for striker loanee Radamel Falcao looking unlikely, per Alex Harris in the Daily Star.

Indeed, a January switch for Cavani to the Emirates always seemed highly unlikely, per B/R UK's James McNicholas below, and it now looks as though he will never move to north London:

Arsenal are still some way short of being a team who can genuinely challenge for the Premier League title, they are currently struggling to even breach the top four.

They are close to having the squad to be realistic title winners but their main deficiencies are not in attack. Once Wenger has dealt with his ropey defence he can target big-name strikers but, until then, he must concentrate on the core of his side.