Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Edinson Cavani and Gabriel Paulista Rumours

Despite needing extra bodies everywhere but striker, Arsenal continue to be linked with Edinson Cavani. The latest rumours suggest the Paris Saint-Germain attacker will join the Gunners this summer.

That's the view of Metro writer Lee Hurley. He suggested Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger could have no problem paying the prolific Uruguayan's £55 million fee, provided the wages are right. But not until the end of this season.

Summer certainly seems like the best time to even think about an Arsenal approach for Cavani. Wenger's team is currently as well-stocked as it's ever been in terms options along the forward line.

In fact, Arsenal's current strength in depth up front even prompted forward Theo Walcott to boldly declare the current attack is better than the Invincibles vintage of 2003/04, per Arsenal.com writer Rob Kelly:

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When I came, it was Pires and Ljungberg, Bergkamp, Thierry and Reyes - that’s some attacking force as well. I think this squad probably does beat it, but we need to prove it first.

[When] we go and achieve a little bit more than winning the FA Cup, then I think we can stand up and say this is the best attacking line up we’ve ever had.

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While the fleet-footed England international's words sound a little fanciful, there's no denying the current Arsenal squad certainly isn't short of talent in attack. Aside from Walcott, Wenger can also call on Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck, Joel Campbell and Alexis Sanchez.

This quintet gives the French gaffer a host of tactical and stylistic combinations to choose from. That's especially true considering all four of Campbell, Sanchez, Walcott and Welbeck can play both wide or through the middle. Each also has the pace to complement target man Giroud's aerial strength.

With this array of options at Wenger's disposal, it's safe to assume Cavani won't be a priority until the summer, if at all. The Gunners may not even be able to count on Cavani's supposed feud with fellow PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to eventually push him out of the French capital.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Cavani recently called the alleged rift a "media circus," per L'Equipe (h/t Daily Express reporter Ben Jefferson). Wenger needn't worry, though. Cavani certainly shouldn't be his priority in this window.

Arsenal's bigger need is reinforcing things at the back. That's where Villarreal's central defender Gabriel Paulista is expected to help.

He is reportedly merely "hours away" from sealing a switch to north London, according to Marca reporter Victor Franch (h/t Metro writer Paul Gorst). The latter reporter cited a tweet from Arsenal shareholder Darren Epstein that has fuelled rumours that Paulista's arrival is imminent:

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Arsene doing Diamond Club Q&A now has just said that Paulista deal virtually done, then tried to backtrack after giving too much away

— Darren (@DarrenArsenal1) January 22, 2015"

Talk of Arsenal finally wrapping up a deal for the Brazilian centre-back gained even more credence after he was left out of Villarreal's squad for the upcoming La Liga clash with Levante, per Mail Online reporter Anthony Hay.

He also discussed Arsenal's potential problems gaining a work permit for a player yet to feature for his country:

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Work permit rules change in the summer, allowing players who cost £10m and over an automatic permit.

But as Sportsmail revealed on Wednesday, Arsenal will appeal any decision not to give Paulista - who has a £15m buy-out clause - a permit this month in an attempt to land him now.

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For his part, Wenger has remained confident a deal for Paulista will ultimately be sanctioned. The Gunners chief recently declared his interest and updated the state of play on the proposed deal, per ESPN FC writer Kevin Palmer.

What's clear, permit and fee issues aside, is that Arsenal need to secure help at the back during this winter window. Paulista can certainly help.

B/R's James McNicholas compares him favourably to current Gunners stalwart Laurent Koscielny:

It's an apt comparison. Wenger guessed right when he rolled the dice on Koscielny, a player with just one season of top-flight football in France, back in 2010.

The Frenchman has since become the key figure across Arsenal's back line. If Wenger could get a similar return from Paulista, it would be a massive boost for the Gunners.

Not having a quality third choice behind Koscielny and fellow incumbent Per Mertesacker has hampered Arsenal this season. It's meant Wenger overplaying youngster Calum Chambers and even converting full-backs Nacho Monreal and Mathieu Debuchy into makeshift centre-backs.

If Wenger can swing a deal, dependent on the right fee and a favourable permit hearing, he'll have a rotation he can be confident will provide Arsenal with a foundation for success in three competitions.

Securing reinforcements at the squad's biggest area of concern, will make this January transfer window an unqualified success for Wenger. It would also ease the worries of Gunners fans who've likely been crossing fingers and toes to try to ward off any major injury woes for Koscielny and Mertesacker.

The Paulista rumour is the one to watch. As for Cavani, any talk of his arrival remains pie in the sky stuff, at least for this month.