Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Kostas Manolas and Goncalo Guedes Buzz

Roma centre-back Kostas Manolas' agent has given Arsenal mixed hope of signing the defender this summer, while the latest reports suggest Benfica will look to price the Gunners out of a move for Goncalo Guedes.

Manolas chose the Stadio Olimpico as his destination last summer despite Arsenal's speculated interest. When pressed for an answer on his client's future this week, agent Ioannis Evangelopoulos told Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t Metro's George Bellshaw):

"Ask [Walter] Sabatini if there’s genuine interest. Kostas is a Roma player, and anyone who wants him will have to ask the club. All I can say is the lad has a contract until 2019. Roma paid a lot for him, and that means they have a lot of expectations for him."

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Roma sporting director Sabatini sanctioned the €15 million deal to acquire Manolas from Olympiakos last August, and the 23-year-old has since gone on to become a highly respected member of Rudi Garcia's setup.

Miralem Pjanic and Radja Nainggolan are the only outfield players among the Giallorossi ranks to have played more Serie A minutes than Manolas this term, showing just what a prominent member of their team he's become.

After missing out on the Greece international, manager Arsene Wenger finally added to his defensive pool in January with the acquisition of Villarreal's Gabriel Paulista, but the Frenchman may not stop there.

James McNicholas of Bleacher Report recently examined what Arsenal need to do in order to build on this season and launch a title bid next term, with summer strengthening key in that regard:

Convincing Roma into selling their asset at this stage looks a difficult task, and with Evangelopoulos hinting Manolas is in Rome for the long haul, the Gunners may be wiser to chase alternative targets.

Benfica Slap Staggering Price Tag on Starlet Goncalo Guedes

Benfica are swiftly erecting a wall of defence around one of the latest youngsters to emerge from their academy, with Guedes earning comparisons to countryman Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 18-year-old winger is being tipped for big things in the future, but Portuguese newspaper O Jogo (h/t Daily Star's Jamie Anderson) reports the Eagles will seek a whopping £40 million for his signature.

A prominent member of Benfica's "B" team, Guedes has made 26 appearances in Portugal's second tier this season, netting seven goals and making an impressive 12 assists, per Transfermarkt.

These performances understandably have Primeira Liga fans raving about the player's ability, and Messi Minutes foretells Benfica assembling a star-studded crew in the years to come:

As well as impressing for Benfica B, Guedes has made his first-team debut this term and racked up nine senior appearances, five of which have come in Portugal's top flight.

Although primarily a right winger, the Portugal under-20 international can perform across the attacking line, much like the icon he's earned comparisons to, Real Madrid's Ronaldo.

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Arsenal currently have their own stack of creative assets emerging at the Emirates Stadium in the likes of Serge Gnabry, Gedion Zelalem and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, but Wenger isn't the type to limit his supply of youth talent.

Should reports of Benfica's valuation be proved true, it's unlikely Arsenal will be making good on their interest, however, as £40 million looks a figure too steep to entertain for one so young.