Arsenal Transfer News: New Marcelo Brozovic Bid Lodged in Double Swoop Rumours

Arsene Wenger could soon add to his list of captured European prodigies after it emerged that Arsenal are homing on deals for Croatia's Marcelo Brozovic and Krystian Bielik of Poland.

Both midfielders have long held ties to the Emirates Stadium, but Sky Italy (h/t 101GreatGoals) alleges a move for Brozovic could be nigh after the Gunners submitted a revised bid of up to €9 million.

EuroFootball/Getty Images

Having only made his international debut leading up to last year's World Cup, Dinamo Zagreb's Brozovic is quickly climbing through Croatia's ranks.

Wenger will face competition for his signature, however, as David Amoyal of GianlucaDiMarzio.com reports:

Brozovic joined Zagreb in 2012, penning a seven-year contract that showed just how confident the club were and undoubtedly still are in his potential, since racking up seven international caps.

However, given his comfort playing in attacking midfield more so than the anchoring role in which Arsenal currently need reinforcements, Brozovic may find competition tough at the Emirates.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

Wenger has only just welcomed Mesut Ozil back into his side alongside Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey. The manager may have plans to shape Brozovic into a more rounded force, but it again strikes as a move which doesn't address the more immediate concerns in north London.

Wenger has even admitted that defence, not midfield, is a priority area for the club this January, recently quoted by Goal.com's Harry Sherlock saying in the wake of Mathieu Debuchy's dislocating his shoulder against Stoke:

"

[Nacho] Monreal and Debuchy can play centre-back but, if Gibbs is not here, Monreal cannot play centre-back and, if Debuchy is not here, he cannot play centre-back. This is a position where we are short.

"

Steering closer toward protecting that back four, a move for Legia Warsaw's Bielik would make more sense. Having seen two offers already rejected, the Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson says a third bid of £2.4 million should be enough to seal the deal.

Football writer Samuel Jay C cites Polish newspaper Przeglad Sportowy as reporting the deal is close after a fee was agreed between the two clubs:

Bleacher Report's James McNicholas recently discussed the Polish prodigy as one of those who could well make the move to north London this winter:

Bielik only turned 17 at the start of this year and would in no way be seen as an instant solution to the midfield conundrum, but his potential strikes as a move for the future Wenger has become so accustomed to.

Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini could well move on from the Emirates Stadium in the next year or so and having a deeper-lying asset ready to step in would be of use to the team in that transition.

According to James Olley of the London Evening Standard, Arsenal had representatives in Poland this week looking to finalise the transfer:

Even by Arsenal's standards, the sum potentially taking Bielik to Arsenal is a fairly modest one and could be afforded alongside any other moves the club might have planned this month.

However, fans may not be pleased if it comes to the end of the January window and an up-and-coming teenager is all Arsenal have to show for their winter recruitment.