Arsenal Transfer News: Paulo Dybala Blow, Latest Gabriel Paulista Rumours

Arsenal do not look likely to be adding Palermo's attacking star Paulo Dybala to their squad in January after the Rosanero president, Maurizio Zamparini, ruled out the switch.

The 21-year-old striker has been turning heads in Serie A this season and has been linked with a switch to the Gunners—as well as Manchester United and Liverpool—but Zamparini insists Dybala will sign a new contract at the Stadio Renzo Barbera, per Parlamento (h/t Aaron Flanagan in the Mirror):

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He will renew his deal and sign a three-year deal, and if he continues to play that well in the next six months then a big club from abroad will sign him. Where will he go? Abroad. In order I would say England, France, Germany and Spain, because the two big clubs in Spain [Real and Barça] already have a lot of forwards.

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It seems that Zamparini is open to the idea of a summer move for Dybala, but a January switch now seems highly unlikely.

The Argentinian Dybala has bagged 10 goals and six assists in 18 Serie A appearances this season, per WhoScored.com, and is valued by Zamparini at £30 million, per Flanagan. 

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At just 21, he is a significant talent and is likely on the radar of many of Europe's top clubs as he looks set to improve further as he gains more experience.

Indeed, Italian football writer Tancredi Palmeri reports Sky Italia's news that Paris St-Germain have enquired after him also:

If Dybala continues to perform at such a high level, the competition to sign him will be enormous in the summer, but it now seems unlikely that Arsenal will be able to get a jump on the rest by signing him up in January.

One player who Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is reportedly insistent on getting in the current window is Villarreal centre-back Gabriel Paulista.

Arsenal are short in defence and Paulista would be a fine addition to the north London outfit, per B/R UK's James McNicholas below, the Brazilian having become a cornerstone of Villarreal's fine defence:

However, the 24-year-old's switch to Arsenal—reportedly set to cost £6 million despite Paulista's £16 million buyout clause—is under threat due to work permit issues, per John Cross in the Mirror: 

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Wenger is set to press ahead with the deal subject to a work permit being approved even though Arsenal know that is far from certain. Paulista, 24, does not have a European passport and has yet to represent Brazil, therefore does not meet the criteria of having played 75 per cent of matches for a nation in FIFA's top 70 within the past two years. They must prove that Paulista is a player of "exceptional talent" but know it may be tricky because of his age and lack of international caps.

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Cross suggests that, despite the work permit issue, Wenger is confident he can push the deal through, and the Gunners certainly need added defensive strength with Mathieu Debuchy now out through injury for the long-term.

Arsenal proved at the weekend in beating Manchester City 2-0 that they can defend well, but they need added depth, and Paulista would be an excellent introduction to the squad as they look to finish in the top four of the Premier League.