Arsenal Transfer News: Riccardo Montolivo Bid Made, Dani Ceballos Rumours

Arsenal reportedly missed out on signing AC Milan's Riccardo Montolivo in the summer transfer window after being one of a number of clubs to have a bid rejected for the Rossoneri skipper.

Montolivo's agent, Giovanni Branchini, has revealed his client was the subject of great interest over the summer, with Arsenal understood to be one of the clubs to enquire about the 30-year-old, per the Express' Adam Skinner.

Branchini, though, also said all approaches were rebuffed, per Skinner: "There’s a strange hostility toward Montolivo. There have been several teams asking about him, but neither we nor Milan have taken any offers into consideration."

The Gunners had a very disappointing summer in terms of transfers, with manager Arsene Wenger's only major signing being the early purchase of goalkeeper Petr Cech from Chelsea, per Bleacher Report's Andy Brassell:

However, while the addition of Montolivo would have strengthened the centre of midfield somewhat, his would hardly have been the type of purchase to propel Arsenal toward the Premier League title.

The Italy international has suffered from significant injury problems in recent times—he made only 10 appearances in Serie A last term, per WhoScored.com—and has been on the bench as understudy to Nigel de Jong so far this season under new Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Perhaps a more exciting prospective Arsenal target is Real Betis midfielder Dani Ceballos, with the Gunners reportedly lining up a January move for the talented 19-year-old.

According to Darren Witcoop in the Mirror, Ceballos' buyout clause stands at £7.5 million, and Arsenal and Liverpool are looking to enquire about the Spaniard in January.

He has less than a year to run on his contract, meaning a cut-price deal could be agreed, and he may be worth battling with Liverpool for. He has been "likened to Cesc Fabregas," according Witcoop.

Again, though, Ceballos is not a guaranteed hit, and Arsenal would be taking a gamble on his potential if they were to sign him.

While it is too early in the season to make a full assessment of Arsenal's title credentials, they still look to be a proven striker and a defensive-midfield backup short and may have to make some significant moves when January rolls around.