Arsenal Transfer News: Marcelo Brozovic Snubs Gunners, Chuba Akpom Rumours

Arsenal have missed out on the signature of Croatian dynamo Marcelo Brozovic after he completed his move to Inter on Monday, but the Gunners could also lose out on striker Chuba Akpom with interest in their starlet rising.

The Associated Press (h/t Daily Mail) reported that Brozovic will move to the San Siro on a two-year loan, with an obligation to make the deal permanent in 2017. The official Inter Twitter account confirmed the move:

Arsene Wenger was keeping tabs on the Dinamo Zagreb midfielder with a view to strengthening his creative options, but the rubber stamp on his Serie A transfer means it's back to the drawing board for the Frenchman.

Speaking to the official Dinamo website, Brozovic told of his delight at completing a move to Italy, per the Daily Mail: "I am delighted to have joined a big club playing in a competitive league with lots of challenges lying ahead. I will miss the many friends I have made at Dinamo but on the other hand, I am really looking forward to life in Italy."

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Wenger has received some reinforcement in the middle of the park with Krystian Bielik's recent arrival from Legia Warsaw, but the 17-year-old is a project for the future and may not bring much in terms of immediate impact.

Another target being linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium is Barcelona's Sergio Busquets, as reported by the Daily Star's Bruce Archer, but Bleacher Report's James McNicholas questions the validity of speculation he'll be coming to north London:

Brozovic follows in the footsteps of Croat compatriot Mateo Kovacic in coming to the Nerazzurri and will be hoping to develop similarly in the Italian top flight.

Since moving to Inter from Dinamo Zagreb in 2013, Kovacic has risen to become one of Serie A's most revered up-and-coming midfielders, with Brozovic bringing a similar skill set to Roberto Mancini's ranks.

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That blow will have set the Gunners back in their winter plans, and the club could see academy star Akpom leave this week as Liverpool number among the sides vying for his signature.

The Daily Star's Rhys Turrell adds that Borussia Dortmund, Feyenoord and FC Twente have already offered the 19-year-old terms, while the Independent's Jack Pitt-Brooke confirms Arsenal have tabled a new contract:

Akpom's current deal in north London expires this summer, and the north Londoners are reportedly keen to hold on to his talents, but the desire for first-team football appears to be tilting his focus elsewhere.

Arsenal would be due a compensation fee if the attacker were to leave for free in the summer, but it would be a relatively paltry sum considering his potential.

The youngster is free to pen a pre-contract agreement with any club after entering the final six months of his contract.

With the likes of Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck to compete with up front, he may feel his chances of first-team football are best served elsewhere.

Akpom came on as a substitute during the north Londoners' 3-2 win over Brighton in the FA Cup, but he's yet to score a goal for the senior team, having made four appearances under Wenger this term.

It's inevitable that with interest growing in his availability, the English teen could be drawn to another Premier League outfit or even abroad, facing a crossroads in his career.