Arsenal Transfer News: Bafetimbi Gomis January Rumours Make Little Sense

The latest January transfer rumours are linking Arsenal with a move for Swansea City forward Bafetimbi Gomis, but a deal for the French striker makes very little sense for the Gunners.

According to the Daily Mail's Simon Jones, the Gunners have been talking to Gomis' agent regarding a move after the 29-year-old told reporters he is keen on joining a bigger club and has Champions League aspirations. He said:

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I know clubs have been speaking to my agent and my agent has been speaking to one very big club so we will see what happens. I believe I could do a job for most clubs and like any player I want to play in the Champions League. There is more to come from me and I just want to play regularly.

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His desire to play more football is understandable—Wilfried Bony is Swansea's designated starter at the position, leading to Gomis making just five Premier League starts this season, via WhoScored.com.

He's made 17 total appearances in all competitions, with most coming off the bench, and he has contributed a solid four goals in that span. For a player receiving limited minutes in his first Premier League season, that's not a bad return.

And with Bony on the verge of joining Manchester City, as reported by BBC Sport (h/t Bleacher Report UK), he might soon have a chance to prove he can be an effective striker when given an extended run in the squad:

But despite an imminent change in fortunes, Gomis appears to be open to a move just months after joining Swans. According to Jones, Crystal Palace have already offered the Welsh outfit £9.3 million for his services, giving other potential suitors an idea of what he might cost on the open market.

Such a fee for a 29-year-old striker with limited Premier League experience and just four goals under his belt seems steep, and if Swansea do indeed lose Bony in January, it might not even be enough to prise him away.

Looking at the Gunners' biggest needs in January, Bleacher Report's Ryan Bailey and Janusz Michallik emphasised the defensive part of the pitch. One has to wonder how much funds are available to throw at another forward:

Following the loan departures of Lukas Podolski and Yaya Sanogo, the latter moving to Crystal Palace on Tuesday, per ESPN FC's Andrew Mangan, there may be an attacking slot open in the squad.

Filling it with Gomis makes no sense, however. As an older striker who has shown too few flashes to warrant a transfer to a top club, he simply doesn't fit the profile of a typical Arsenal signing.

He's not as good at shielding the ball as Olivier Giroud nor does he have the athletic ability of Danny Welbeck. He's well over 6' tall but not nearly as dominant in the air as you would hope or expect.

After just six months in the Premier League, Gomis has shown too little to warrant a transfer to a top club.

The fact he's now openly lobbying for a spot on a Champions League team has to lead to questions regarding his attitude—if he's not good enough to be a regular starter for Swansea, why does he think he deserves to play for the likes of Arsenal?

Perhaps Gomis isn't happy with Swansea, which would explain the timing of this transfer rumour, with Bony as good as gone. But a move to Crystal Palace or another mid-table club makes far more sense for the France international. Gomis needs to establish himself as a consistent Premier League performer, something he's yet to do.

The January transfer window often leads to odd or downright silly rumours, and while you should never overlook manager Arsene Wenger's love for his compatriots, a move for Gomis in January makes little sense.  

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