Arsenal Transfer News: Top Rumours on Christmas Day
Arsenal are hoping to offer former Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez a swift return to the Premier League. Plus, Mathieu Debuchy has rejected the interest of an English suitor.
Arsene Wenger's side are understood to be in the market for a new striker, and Spanish daily Sport reported the club will launch an €18 million (£13.2 million) bid for Bayer Leverkusen's in-form hitman (h/t Metro's Will Giles).
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However, one major flaw in the potential signing is that Hernandez has already represented two clubs this season. He played in two Champions League qualifiers against Club Brugge and 23 minutes of United's Premier League clash against Newcastle United in August.
FIFA rules forbid players from representing more than two clubs in a 12-month period, meaning Arsenal's best hope would be to register the player in January, but they wouldn't be able to play him until August 2016.
Hernandez has been in terrific form since leaving Old Trafford for the BayArena over the summer, netting 19 goals in his first 22 games for Bayer Leverkusen in all competitions.
The 27-year-old has gone from Manchester United outcast to Bundesliga sensation in just a few months, and his form led Leverkusen chief executive Michael Schade to refer to him as "life insurance" for the club recently, per German newspaper Rheinische Post (h/t ESPN FC's Stephan Uersfeld).
"You don't want to imagine our team without him," Schade said. "And you don't want to think about where we'd be in the standings without him. He's almost our life insurance. You might dream of a transfer like this, but you can't expect it."
His return has been hugely valuable for the club considering Leverkusen paid only €11 million (£8 million) for his signature, meaning Arsenal could offer the Germans an opportunity to turn a quick profit.
As illustrated by Breathe Sport, United may well regret selling the Mexico international:
"Goals this season: Di Maria, Nani, Hernandez & RvP: 45 Entire Man Utd squad: 35 Merry Christmas Louis. pic.twitter.com/r0hL3BPtGV
— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) December 23, 2015"
Meanwhile, right-back Debuchy has spurned the advances of West Bromwich Albion amid reports he could leave the Emirates Stadium in the new year.
The former Lille star has made just seven appearances for Arsenal this season after falling behind Hector Bellerin in Wenger's pecking order, but French newspaper L'Equipe said West Brom isn't to his liking (h/t Get French Football News).
That revelation comes after French outlet Buzz Sport reported the defender was in talks with Serie A giants Roma, with Debuchy hoping to win back his spot in the France team before Euro 2016 (h/t Metro's Mark Brus).
Wenger's squad has already been thinned out by injuries this season, but it's possible the Gunners would look to secure a replacement for Debuchy, whom Football365 touched upon as a weak point of the club's defence:
Debuchy's lack of involvement this season has sown doubt in the player's mind that he may not make Didier Deschamps' France team for UEFA Euro 2016 next summer, intensifying his need for first-team football.
West Brom are reportedly looking to acquire the fringe figure, but it appears the 30-year-old may hold out for a move with bigger prospects in mind.
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