Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Leroy Sane and Alex Iwobi Rumours

Arsenal are looking to add to their legions of young talent this winter following news the Gunners are ramping up interest in Schalke's Leroy Sane, while academy prospect Alex Iwobi looks set to remain in north London.

The Sunday People's Neil Moxley (h/t the Mirror) reported Arsene Wenger had scouts in place as Schalke clinched a 2-2 draw against Sparta Prague in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday with a view to making a move next year.

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That result saw the winger come off the bench to net his seventh goal in nine games for club and country, having scored three in three appearances for Germany's under-21s since debuting last month.

That's despite the fact Sane is still just 19 years of age, and as Ben McAleer of WhoScored.com can attest, he ranks among the most promising prospects in Europe so far this season:

Sane scored four goals in 14 appearances for the Miners across all competitions last season, but the North Rhine-Westphalia native has already matched that tally for his club this season in one game fewer.

Moxley's report links Arsenal as an interested party, but Bundesliga pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft has hinted ex-Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp, now at Liverpool's helm, could be interested in the youngster:

The north Londoners have added a number of German talents in recent years in the form of Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker, while Serge Gnabry is also making his way through the club's senior ranks.

Sane certainly appears to fit the Arsenal mould in that he's young and is already showing extreme promise, but the temptation to remain and develop closer to home may prove a difficult barrier for Wenger's side to overcome.

Back at the Emirates, it's emerged speculation linking Gunners starlet Alex Iwobi with a loan move to Birmingham City has been outed as "wide of the mark."

That's according to Brian Dick of the Birmingham Mail, who reported there doesn't appear to be any interest in a player quickly making strides at Arsenal.

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Iwobi, nephew of ex-Bolton Wanderers star Jay-Jay Okocha, was speculated to move to St Andrews on loan, but those rumours appear to have been quashed with the news manager Gary Rowett isn't eyeing his talents.

The full Nigeria international recently scored a brace against Bayern Munich under-19s in the UEFA Youth League, after which he testified to his excitement at being able to work with coach Thierry Henry, per Metro's George Bellshaw:

"

I owe that to him [Henry]. 

He told me before the game that most wingers get their goals at the back post so I tried to take his advice on board. 

Other coaches I have had have all played football but no disrespect to them; I have never had anyone like Thierry. 

I am basically learning from the best. 

We all want to listen and learn.

He’s like one of us. He just jokes around. But when we have to be serious he’s very serious. He is teaching us what to do. 

He may criticise us a few times but that’s just for us to get better.

"

The teenager has already earned two caps for Nigeria and travelled with Arsenal's first team in their pre-season trip to Singapore this year before netting his first senior goal against Lyon in the Emirates Cup.

BBC Sport's Oluwashina Okeleji provided quotes from Iwobi's father Chuka earlier this month, where he suggested his son was prepared to go out on loan:

Iwobi scored nine goals in his last nine games for Arsenal's reserves last season, and there could be a chance the first team will want to keep him around in case they're strapped for attacking options.

Birmingham may not be in contention to take the forward on temporary terms, but a loan spell away from the Emirates could benefit Iwobi greatly—unless he's offered more senior opportunities in the months to come.