Arsenal Transfer News: Adrien Rabiot Slammed, Victor Osimhen Rumours Grow

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi will not allow midfielder Adrien Rabiot to leave the club during the January transfer window, amid rumours Arsenal were interested in bringing the Frenchman to north London on loan.

Speaking to Le Figaro (h/t London Evening Standard's James Benge), he slammed the 22-year-old for openly asking for a move and his lack of respect for the club:

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I was very disappointed -- I said it to his face. His statements are unacceptable. I didn't appreciate at all that he declared that a loan would be a Christmas present. It's a complete lack of respect towards his first club who did so much for him.

He's 20 years old, plays regularly in a big team. He's come through the youth academy -- the club has given him a lot. I'll never accept that he considers himself more important than the club.

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Rabiot and PSG have been at odds before, and there's a long list of incidents involving the player and his mother, who also acts as his agent. Goal's Robin Bairner detailed how he only lasted for six months with Manchester City, with many believing Veronique Rabiot had something to do with that:

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In 2008, Rabiot was signed to the Manchester City youth academy on a six-year deal that should have seen him turn professional with the Premier League club when the youngster turned 17. It took only six months for this arrangement to be severed, though, with rumours suggesting that Veronique was angry with the English club’s treatment of her boy.

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Per Bairner, Rabiot and PSG came close to a split last season due to a disagreement over playing time, and it seems the situation hasn't changed much. Rabiot has started nine Ligue 1 matches this season, per WhoScored.com, but he's still not satisfied.

The supremely talented Rabiot has been in strong form of late, but he faces a ton of competition for a spot in PSG's midfield. The likes of Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verratti would likely start for just about any top club in the world―it's easy to see why they're usually favoured over the young Frenchman.

Consistent playing time is key to developing a young player, so Rabiot's insistence on either playing more or going out on loan is understandable. He remains one of Les Parisiens' brightest prospects, as you can see below, so a transfer seems unlikely:

PSG remain adamant he has a big future at the club, and Rabiot still seems to love the club, so perhaps the biggest issue between the two parties is simply communication. Regardless, a move seems highly unlikely.

Gunners Battle Wolfsburg for Victor Osimhen

ANDRES PINA/Getty Images

The race to sign talented striker Victor Osimhen has come down to Arsenal and Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, as his adviser confirmed previous favourites Tottenham Hotspur are no longer being considered.

According to the Sun, the adviser, Gaffar Liameed, said: “We had many offers for Victor, but narrowed it to Wolfsburg and Arsenal.”

Osimhen has already visited Wolfsburg's facilities, per the report.

The 16-year-old striker has quickly become a favourite of scouts, scoring 10 goals in seven appearances for Nigeria's under-17 squad, the team that won this year's World Cup. As you can see in the video below, he was outstanding and finished as top scorer:

Osimhen looks like a future superstar, a traditional striker blessed with deceptive speed, bags of strength and natural finishing ability. He needs to add some weight to his slender frame to hold his own against older, more experienced defenders, but his potential is immense.

The Sun believe Arsenal are the favourites to land his signature, but his adviser seems to have different ideas, per BBC Sport's Oluwashina Okeleji:

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Adviser on Osimhen: "If it were all about the money, #Arsenal are far ahead, but we have to think first & foremost about the boy’s career."

— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) December 20, 2015"

Arsenal could use a young prospect like Osimhen, given their lack of depth at the position, and playing time shouldn't be an issue once he gets comfortable in north London. He will have to spend a couple of years with the youth squad, regardless of his eventual destination, as he's simply not ready to shine in the Premier League or Bundesliga.

Osimhen is ahead of the curve, but his advisers should focus on whichever team is best equipped to prepare him for his career. Immediate playing time shouldn't even be on their minds at this point.

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