Arsenal Transfer News: Nolito, Darijo Srna, Adrien Rabiot, Top Rumours

Arsenal are reportedly closing in on the signing of Celta Vigo forward Nolito and are in the midst of negotiating contract terms with the player.  

According to Gabriel Sans of Spanish outlet El Mundo Deportivo (via Metro's Jamie Sanderson), Arsenal are prepared to activate Nolito's £12.9 million release clause in January and are close to finalising a deal ahead of rival suitors Barcelona.

The 29-year-old Spaniard has been in impressive form so far this season, netting eight goals and providing five assists in 15 La Liga appearances, per WhoScored.com.

He would provide excellent cover on the left flank for Alexis Sanchez and give manager Arsene Wenger further attacking options.

The Gunners are currently enduring an injury crisis that could potentially thwart their title hopes, and greater squad depth is needed if they are to remain competitive with Premier League favourites Manchester City throughout the season, per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

Nolito himself recently picked up an injury which is set to see him sidelined for a month, but he should be back some time in January when Arsenal would snap him up, per a Celta statement (h/t FourFourTwo).

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has previously maintained that Arsenal are not interested in signing Nolito:

But the latest reports seem to go against that assertion, and he would seemingly be an excellent purchase for Arsenal, who need a wider breadth of quality in their squad.

To that end, the north London outfit are reportedly pursuing Shakhtar Donetsk defender Darijo Srna as a potential replacement for Mathieu Debuchy, who could be on the way out in the summer.

According to Russian outlet Izvestia (h/t Luke Gardener of the Daily Star), the 33-year-old Croatian is out of contract at Donetsk in the summer and, thus, could sign a pre-contract agreement with the Gunners in January.

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He would be an excellent back-up at right-back for Hector Bellerin and would bring a wealth of experience to Arsenal's back line.

Meanwhile, Arsenal look set to miss out on 20-year-old central midfield target Adrien Rabiot, as Napoli are reportedly leading the race to sign the Paris Saint-Germain star.

The Frenchman has been only a bit-part player at the Parc des Princes this season and has reportedly asked for a January transfer away from Paris, with Napoli his preferred destination, per Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (via Joe Short of the Daily Express).

Arsenal are in desperate need of reinforcements in central midfield with Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere all sidelined through injury. Rabiot is one of the most talented prospects in Europe, especially in distribution terms, per WhoScored:

However, with GianlucaDiMarzio.com also labelling Napoli among "the leading contenders" to sign Rabiot, it looks as though Arsenal may have a fight on their hands to snap him up.