Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Dani Alves and James Milner

Arsenal's desire to land Barcelona right-back Dani Alves will see them go head-to-head with Manchester United, with reports suggesting that the Gunners are willing to offer the Brazilian star a whopping £15.6 million contract.

Jamie Sanderson of Metro cites reports in Spain that claim the Emirates outfit is set to outbid the Red Devils for the 31-year-old, whose contract at the Camp Nou is up at the end of the season.

Here is what the Arsenal fans could look forward to should he join up:

The Brazilian would certainly suit the Gunners’ brand of football. Arsenal typically play wide men who drift inside, creating space for rampaging full-backs, and the prospect of Alves’ trailblazing, vertical forays on the right flank is certainly a tantalising one for the Emirates faithful.

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As noted here by AS, the Blaugrana man is incisive once he gets into dangerous areas:

But even though Alves has been one of the standout full-backs in world football for the best part of a decade, Arsenal’s apparent willingness to land him seems peculiar. Typically, Arsene Wenger isn’t a manager who will pay over the odds for a player approaching the twilight of his career, especially not when they’re on stratospheric wages.

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His acquisition would also stunt the development of two other young players who have massive potential at Arsenal. Both Calum Chambers and Hector Bellerin have shone in Mathieu Debuchy’s absence at right-back at times this season, and if Arsenal were to land Alves on a long-term deal, their respective statures at the club would be in serious doubt.

With Barcelona unable to sign a replacement for Alves this summer because of their transfer embargo, expect him to stick around at the Camp Nou for at least another season. Anyway, even if he was to leave the Camp Nou this summer, it’d represent a major change in principles from Wenger if he went all out for the Brazilian.

Another player reportedly on Arsenal’s radar this summer is James Milner. Like Alves, the Manchester City man could also leave his current club at the end of the campaign on a free transfer, and according to David McDonnell of the Mirror, he's holding out for a four-year deal at the Etihad.

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The City fans have been abundantly clear about wanting the 29-year-old to remain at the club, as noted here by David Lynch of the Manchester Evening News:

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"We want you to stay!" sing the #MCFC fans to James Milner. No kidding!

— David Lynch (@DavidLynchMEN) February 11, 2015"

According to McDonnell, Liverpool are also keeping tabs on the versatile star, and City’s reluctance to hand out a deal of that length could see Milner set off in search of pastures new. He’s been in superb form for the champions as of late, and former City midfielder Rodney Marsh had high praise for him after another fine goal against Stoke City:

Milner is a player who would definitely bring something different to Arsenal’s plethora of midfield stars. While he is often bracketed as a utility man who will plug a gap in various positions, the City star is an understatedly intelligent footballer who possesses an unrelenting work-rate and irrepressible tenacity.

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With that in mind, there could be a role for him at the heart of the Arsenal midfield, but City will surely be keen to keep hold of him. However, if a new deal doesn’t materialise, Milner would be a shrewd acquisition by Wenger as he attempts to build a title-challenging squad for the 2015/16 campaign.