Arsenal Transfer News: Major Simone Zaza Boost, Latest Adrien Rabiot Rumours

Simone Zaza has gifted Arsenal a huge opening in the hunt for his services after reportedly handing in a transfer request at Juventus, while the Gunners face big competition from Serie A if they're to land Adrien Rabiot.

Italian outlet Calcio Mercato reported on Tuesday that Italy striker Zaza had set the wheels in motion to push through a Juve exit, just three days before the January transfer window opens for business:

A lot of hype surrounded Zaza's move to Turin after Juventus chose to purchase the player's full rights from Sassuolo over the summer, but he's been a fringe figure under Massimiliano Allegri so far this term. Spanish website Fichajes previously linked the forward with a move to north London (h/t Metro).

Despite a lack of playing time, the 24-year-old still holds a very respectable scoring ratio of five goals in just four starts across all competitions this season, boasting an average of one goal every 73 minutes, per Transfermarkt.

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A recent report from Football Italia declared Premier League outfits West Ham United and Crystal Palace were interested in signing Zaza for €27 million (£19.9 million), but Juventus aren't interested in a sale.

That said, the player's alleged transfer request would help the Gunners sanction a deal—either permanent or temporary—as they seek alternative options to Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott up front.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger isn't known to be a fan of the winter transfer window, and while spending a figure so large in January doesn't fall within club tradition, Zaza's potential availability may be too good to pass up.

The Azzurri striker is competing with the likes of Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic for a place in Allegri's setup at present, and the lighter-looking front line at the Emirates Stadium may be seen as a preferred option.

The Gunners could also lock horns with the Old Lady over a winter move for Paris Saint-Germain youngster Rabiot after Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport claimed they and Inter are both in for the Frenchman (h/t Football Italia).

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That's despite last week's claims from PSG's sporting director Leonardo, who declared Rabiot will not be sold during the January transfer window, per Calcio Mercato (h/t James Cambridge of the Daily Express): 

"He is a young midfielder, but he is ready to play. PSG trust him a lot and I think he'll remain at the club. PSG are playing lot of competitions and they will definitely need him. The club is forced to win every year but they also need to think about the future."

According to Bleacher Report's Ligue 1 reporter Andrew Gibney, PSG would be wise to keep the central midfielder among their ranks:

The middle of the park has been speculated as an area of Wenger's squad that needs reinforcements in the new year following injuries to Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla.

The options reportedly offered by Juve and Inter will be seen as unwelcome competition in north London, however, meaning Wenger faces a serious fight to sign Rabiot, one of France's brightest rising stars.