Calling True or False on 3 Recent Arsenal Transfer Rumours

Although the January transfer window is still a good while away, there are always Arsenal rumours to enjoy.

In this piece, we look at three of the latest transfer stories about the Gunners, and assess whether or not they’re likely to be true or false.

Riechedly Bazoer to Arsenal

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According to John Cross of the Mirror, Arsenal are hot on the trail of Dutch wonderkid Riechedly Bazoer. Cross writes:

"

Bazoer is regarded as one of Holland's best young prospects and Arsenal were in for him three years ago but he decided to join Amsterdam giants Ajax.

Although he is just 19, Bazoer has already represented Holland at Under-21 level, and has also been called up to the full squad.

The Gunners are now watching him closely and may be tempted to make a move.

"

Bazoer is a central midfielder who rose to prominence after scoring his first senior goal against FC Twente in February of this year. In the past month he has made the step up to senior international level, replacing the injured Davy Klaassen in the squad for the latest round of European qualifiers.

It’s highly probable that Bazoer’s progress would have alerted Arsenal’s fleet of scouts. The club’s academy is headed up by Andries Jonker, so it’s likely that the Gunners would make use of his network of Dutch contacts to try and complete the deal.

Their efforts would be helped by the presence of former Arsenal men, Marc Overmars and Dennis Bergkamp, on the staff at Ajax. The two clubs collaborated last summer on a loan deal for Yaya Sanogo, so the lines of communication between the two sides are already open at boardroom level.

Bazoer seems like a classic Arsene Wenger signing, so there’s every chance that this rumour could prove to be true.

Verdict: True

Mathieu Debuchy to Roma

Darko Bandic/Associated Press

Dan Gibbs of the Express reports that Serie A side Roma are weighing up a January bid for Arsenal full-back Mathieu Debuchy.

Debuchy current finds himself below Hector Bellerin in Wenger’s selection hierarchy. A succession of unfortunate injuries saw the Frenchman sidelined for much of last season, and in his absence, Bellerin established himself as the new first-choice right-back.

That’s a big problem for Debuchy, who will be desperate to be part of Euro 2016 in his native France next year. He was left out of the most recent international squad, and the 30-year-old will struggle to reclaim his place if he fails to get regular first-team football. 

It’s probable that Debuchy will agitate for a January move—the bigger question is whether Wenger would sanction the sale of an important and experienced squad member.

Verdict: True

Aleksandr Kokorin to Arsenal

KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/Getty Images

The agent of Russian forward Aleksandr Kokorin believes there is still a chance the 24-year-old could move to Arsenal after his club Dynamo Moscow refused to let him leave in the summer.

Cyril Loginov told Russian outlet Sports Daily (h/t the Mirror):

"

Aleksandr, if all well informed, still has a chance [to move in the future] and not just to Arsenal.

If Dynamo refused to give Aleksandr to Arsenal in the past transfer window, it does not mean that he can’t be where he wants [in the next window].

We have a very good relationship with the coaching staff and the management of the football club Dynamo Moscow. We have, of course, been notified.

"

However, Kokorin’s chance of a switch to London may have slipped past. By the time January rolls around, Danny Welbeck is expected to make a full return to training. With Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud also available for selection, there is no obvious need to recruit another centre-forward of Kokorin’s calibre.

Wenger will also be mindful of the fact that he has to reintegrate Chuba Akpom into his squad in the next year or two if he is serious about developing the Englishman into a first-team player.

Verdict: False

 

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.