Arsenal Transfer News: Leading Gunners Targets Named in Latest Rumours

Tenuous reports suggest Arsenal are in the market for Brazilian defensive midfielder Felipe Melo. The Galatasaray destroyer is apparently set to sign for Serie A giants Juventus, according to Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t talkSPORT).

The same article describes the 31-year-old as a "long-term target for the Gunners." It also speculates on how he'd fit in: "Arsene Wenger sees the experienced centre-back as a man who could provide important first-team cover next term."

The player's contract status is also pinpointed as a viable reason for a potential Arsenal move: "Melo has one year left to run on his contract with the Turkish giants and this could mean Arsenal will move quickly to persuade the defender to come to the Premier League for the first time."

Frankly, there doesn't seem to be much credence to these claims. For one thing, Melo doesn't offer obvious help to the Gunners in either midfield or defence.

He played centre-back during Galatasaray's 4-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the UEFA Champions League group stage earlier this season. Melo was completely overwhelmed by the pace and movement of the Gunners' forward line.

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His struggles played a major role in usually goal-shy striker Danny Welbeck bagging a hat-trick. That's hardly a great endorsement for a defender, even one expected to provide cover rather than start.

But Melo may be no more effective in midfield. He played further forward in Galatasaray's return match against Arsenal—another 4-1 defeat. The tough-tackling enforcer couldn't get near playmakers Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Few would dispute the Gunners need a player with physical, destructive qualities to balance a midfield otherwise defined by creativity and flair. Yet the search for a more robust option already seems to be leading Wenger away from Melo.

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Spanish outlet Fichajes.net (h/t Metro's George Bellshaw) suggests Arsenal have already made an £18.2 million bid for AS Monaco linchpin Geoffrey Kondogbia. That may be a surprise, considering the emergence of Francis Coquelin as a stellar, full-time holding player this season.

But there are questions about whether Wenger should entrust Coquelin to solidify the team for an assault on major prizes next term. London Evening Standard writer James Olley details the debate:

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The emergence of Francis Coquelin has proved a divisive issue with some senior figures at the club believing he has proved himself the solution to Arsenal’s problems while others believe it would be a gamble to entrust the 23-year-old with the role as they pursue Premier League and Champions League success.

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Significantly, though, Olley notes how Coquelin's performances have made finding a natural defensive player for the base of midfield one of Wenger's transfer priorities. To that end, B/R French football analyst Jonathan Johnson sees Kondogbia as a "level above" Coquelin:

Signing a powerhouse to play alongside or even replace Coquelin would be a major boost to Arsenal's bid to challenge for the Premier League title. Yet although Wenger has often signed Brazilian players more defined by their functional qualities rather than the flair and skill for which the South American nation is renowned, such as Gilberto Silva and Edu, count on him avoiding Melo this summer.

Young Gem Ben Chilwell on the Radar

While Wenger is busy retuning the starting XI, he won't forget about adding some more precocious young talents to the reserve ranks. One teenage star currently on his radar is Leicester City's defender Ben Chilwell, according to the Mirror's John Cross.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press/Associated Press

Cross states that the 18-year-old left-back is being targeted to add numbers to the youth teams: "They have some gems in the youth ranks—with Danny Crowley, Gedion Zelalem and Chris Willock very highly thought of—but there is a concern that they do not have enough strength in depth throughout the youth ranks."

The Gunners haven't yet made a bid, but Wenger has dispatched scouts to watch the player on several occasions. As a manger who has always made room for the promise of youth, Wenger hasn't lost his belief in acquiring young players and attempting to develop them into stars.

Admittedly, that approach has become less frequent in recent seasons, as the Frenchman has turned to experienced pros such as Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker to steady the ship. He's also shown an increased willingness to spend big on marquee names, such as Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

But it's still possible for a young gem to break into the first team at the Emirates Stadium. This season saw 20-year-old full-back Hector Bellerin emerge from the youth setup and become a key part of Arsenal's FA Cup-winning squad.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Signing Chilwell as an understudy for 29-year-old Nacho Monreal and deputy Kieran Gibbs would be a smart move. Monreal is wanted by Athletic Bilbao, according to Football Espana, while Gibbs has been injury prone during most of his Gunners career.

While Chilwell seems like a classic Wenger project, don't count on the Arsenal boss making Melo part of his summer transfer plans. If he opts to bring in competition for Coquelin, he'll look much closer at the top end of the market.