Arsenal Transfer News: John Stones, Nicolas Gaitan, Ademola Lookman, Top Rumours

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has distanced his side from a move for Everton defender John Stones, but the Gunners are ramping up their interest in Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan and Charlton Athletic striker Ademola Lookman.

Earlier in the week, Spanish website Fichajes linked Arsenal with a bid for England international Stones (h/t Metro's Tom Olver), but Wenger moved quickly to dismiss speculation, per James Olley of the London Evening Standard.

The Mirror's Alex Richards provided quotes from the Gunners manager, who went on to elaborate: "We are not after John Stones. We are focused on tomorrow’s game."

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Only Manchester United (10) and Tottenham Hotspur (11) have conceded fewer goals than Arsenal in the Premier League this season (12), with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny sitting as the club's first-choice pairing in central defence.

A move for Stones would fit Wenger's profile, however, considering the 21-year-old is arguably the biggest prospect in English football, a player to whom David Cartlidge of beIN Sports has given massive praise:

Arsenal would undertake any pursuit of Stones knowing they'd have to part with major funds to land his services, with Chelsea's final summer bid reported as £38 million by Charlie Skillen and Elliott Bretland of the MailOnline.

Although all this could merely be a ruse to throw the media off the scent, Wenger insists his side are not in for the starlet, and he is content with the options already at his disposal.

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Manchester United were mentioned as another team interested in Stones' signature, and Arsenal will again have to fight the Red Devils if they're to recruit Benfica star Nicolas Gaitan.

According to Portuguese daily Record, the Red Devils have already sent scouts to do reconnaissance on the Argentina winger, but the Gunners are also looking to contend (h/t Charles Perrin of the Daily Express).

That's due to the fact Wenger has seen his ranks so drastically reduced by injuries this season after Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and now Alexis Sanchez all suffered injuries.

Portuguese football expert Jan Hagen reported Gaitan's release clause has been raised to €45 million (£32.4 million) after lowering the fee last year, presumably all too aware of the money-making opportunity at hand:

Gaitan has scored four goals and made eight assists in 16 appearances across all competitions this season, per Transfermarkt. The time for a Premier League move may have come following years of speculation regarding a switch.

It's not often Wenger does major business in the winter transfer window, but injuries may force the Frenchman's hand if his side are to maintain a charge at Premier League title contention.

Another attacking recruit the north Londoners are understood to be examining is Charlton's Lookman, who has stood out at the Valley this season after emerging from the club's academy.

It's been barely a month since the 18-year-old made his first-team debut for the Addicks, but South London Press reported the Gunners are among the clubs already scouting the talent (h/t Metro's Lee Tomas-Mason).

Charlton under-21s manager Jason Euell is quoted praising the starlet:

"

He just loves playing football. If we do certain sessions or we finish and Ademola feels he hasn’t done enough for the day – we don’t want to risk him getting injured – then he sulks. That’s natural for him, because he just wants to play football all the time – U18, U21 or first-team.

He doesn’t see it being Birmingham, Ipswich or Brighton – he just sees another football match where he wants to perform. He is very hard on himself. I have conversations with him after games and he wants to know how he did. He’s very critical of himself and that’s what I’m trying to get out of him. He is a talent and the next one to come through after Karlan Ahearne-Grant, Diego Poyet and Joe Gomez.

"

Lookman has been rewarded for his improvement with increased playing time, and the teenager played his first full 90 minutes in the 3-0 defeat to Ipswich Town last week.

For now, Lookman is receiving valuable first-team attention at the Valley, but the promise of joining one of the world's most esteemed academies at Arsenal could tempt him toward the Emirates Stadium.