Arsenal Transfer News: Various Talents Targeted by Gunners in Latest Rumours

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has never been a manager that spends swathes of cash in the January window regardless of the situation his team finds itself in. But with defensive options staggeringly short as the Gunners look to build towards a prosperous 2015, perhaps the Frenchman will be pushed into action this midseason.

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This offensively loaded squad clearly needs an injection of resilience and the Emirates outfit have been handed a boost in the pursuit of longstanding defensive midfield target Morgan Schneiderlin. That’s according to the Mirror (h/t Izzy Horsefield of the Express), who claims that Tottenham Hotspur are looking at contingency plans should they miss out on the Southampton man.

Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe rates Schneiderlin very highly indeed:

The Frenchman would be the ideal player to sit at the base of this Gunners midfield. His range of passing would see him fit seamlessly into Arsenal’s intricate and fluid style of football, while his reading of the game and physicality would give the midfield a desirable new dimension.

Squawka Football noted his ability with the ball as well as his consistency across the previous calendar year:

Despite how well he’d fit in at the Emirates, it’s difficult to see Saints cashing in. Indeed, they were staunch in their desire to keep hold of the player during the summer and have been rewarded, with Schneiderlin helping steer the South coast club towards a lofty Premier League position. Why on earth would they choose to disrupt a settled and burgeoning side midseason?

With that in mind, the Gunners may look at more feasible, cheaper targets in January and one player that they could potentially tempt the Emirates is West Ham United’s star defender Winston Reid. According to the Daily Star, the Hammers are ready to accept a £3 million bid for the New Zealander who has been talked up as a critical player for the club.

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“Reid has been West Ham's most consistent player so he'd be a massive loss,” said the club’s former midfielder Steve Lomas in the aforementioned piece. “They could get higher up in the league if he stays.”

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As we can see here courtesy of WhoScored.com, Reid has been a vital defensive influence for the Hammers this season:

Indeed, not too dissimilar to Southampton, the West Ham hierarchy will not want to disrupt what has been a settled side that’s performing well. But, critically, Reid’s contract is due to expire at the end of the campaign and by the looks of things, he has no intention of extending his stay at the Boleyn Ground.

It’s something that could be to Arsenal’s benefit. Reid has grown into an excellent Premier League defender and is someone that would provide real stern competition for Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny in the centre-back berths. He’s also a player that’d be able to lend a hand to the Gunners’ European commitments, as they look to go far in the Champions League.

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A January deal would be ideal for the Gunners, as Reid is someone that’s likely to attract a lot of attention as the season rolls on, meaning Wenger could face some stern competition for the player. Indeed, defensive reinforcements are an apparently high priority for a host of Premier League clubs midseason.

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According to Tom Hopkinson of the Sunday People (h/t the Mirror), Stoke City have joined Arsenal in the race to land Ipswich Town’s versatile young defender, Tyrone Mings. As noted in the piece, the 21-year-old is a player who has been subject of extended interest from the Gunners, but it seems as though the Potters are also keen on bringing him to the Premier League.

On the face of it, Mings does look an excellent prospect and his ability to play at left-back or centre-back would be very useful for Wenger. But at this juncture, you suspect game time will be much more readily available at the Britannia Stadium and at his age, it’s vital Mings gets the requisite minutes he needs to achieve his potential.