Arsenal Transfer News: Ezequiel Lavezzi Rejects New PSG Contract, Latest Rumours

Arsenal may look to capitalise upon Ezequiel Lavezzi's availability this winter after it emerged the Argentina international has rejected a new contract offer at the Parc des Princes.

According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, Lavezzi could be available for as little as £3.5 million in January as he enters the final six months of his Paris-Saint Germain contract (h/t Joe Short of the Daily Express).

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

However, defending Serie A champions Juventus are also reported to be in for the winger, handing the Gunners some unwanted competition in their hunt for the former Napoli ace.

Di Marzio translator David Amoyal cited Sky Sport reporter Fabrizio Romano, reporting exactly how much Lavezzi is understood to be seeking in wages, equivalent to roughly £55,000 a week after tax:

The 30-year-old has fallen out of favour in the French capital and the arrival of summer signing Angel Di Maria has only increased competition out wide, limiting Lavezzi to just three Ligue 1 starts this season.

It was suggested Lavezzi could have left PSG over the summer, at which point his agent Alejandro Mazzoni told French newspaper L'Equipe the trickster was willing to fight for his place (via Football Italia):

"

It’s true that Inter are interested in the player. However, Ezequiel is happy at PSG, wants to fight for his place and is not leaving the team.

Even if there is a lot of competition for places, it’s a sporting challenge and he’ll do everything to earn his spot. It’s a little like Argentine, where there are Leo Messi, Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero, yet Pocho played many games including the World Cup Final.

"

It would seem the stance has altered since then and Arsenal could benefit from the arrival of another attacker, should Theo Walcott's move to striker prove permanent.

According to Get French Football News, PSG are willing to let Lavezzi leave Parc des Princes in the winter transfer market, which would free up space for manager Laurent Blanc to make his own recruitment:

Injuries have ravaged Arsenal of late, and with Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck injured, the likes of Joel Campbell and Kieran Gibbs have been called upon to fill the space out wide.

It's hardly a stellar advertisement of the Gunners' strength in attacking depth—or lack thereof—but FourFourTwo's Adam Digby hinted Lavezzi could be a target worth avoiding:

Should reports of Lavezzi's supposed £3.5 million price tag prove accurate, his services could be an option worth examining in January, although the temptation would be to sign the forward when his contract expires in June.

That being said, Arsenal have an immediate need of reinforcements, and although Lavezzi is older than Wenger's usual recruits, the 42-times capped international may have more to offer if handed a route out of PSG.