Arsenal Transfer News: Marcelo Brozovic Blow, Latest on Michy Batshuayi Rumours

Arsenal have suffered a double blow in their January recruitment after Inter ruled out an exit for midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, while Marseille are set to demand more than £30 million for Tottenham Hotspur target Michy Batshuayi.  

FourFourTwo reported on Tuesday that Nerazzurri boss Roberto Mancini had "laughed off" interest in his playmaker, with the Gunners reportedly hoping to acquire his services in January. Inter's official Twitter account quoted the manager, who suggested the Croatia international is a part of his long-term plans:

Brozovic is in the middle of an 18-month loan deal at the San Siro, but the player is widely expected to complete a permanent switch from parent club Dinamo Zagreb after making a positive start to life in Serie A.

The Gunners became attached to the 23-year-old after seeing central midfielders Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla ruled out until well into the new year with injuries.

Those absences have forced Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to lean more heavily on the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini in the engine room, but the squad cannot afford any more setbacks in that area.

Tancredi Palmeri of beIN Sports recently went so far as to claim the Gunners have already made contact over a deal for the player, who can function in a holding capacity or in a box-to-box role:

Wenger's plans to strengthen his attack have also been hit after it was reported Marseille are looking to tie down Batshuayi on new terms, according to French newspaper L'Equipe (h/t Get French Football News).

Tom Collomosse of the London Evening Standard insisted the new deal, which will expire in 2020, will "force interested clubs to pay more than £30 million" for the Belgium international.

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Wenger's side have been attached to a host of attackers since failing to bring in any senior outfield players last summer and seeing Theo Walcott promoted in front of Olivier Giroud in the striker role.

Giroud has since been reinstated up front, but Goal.com's Robin Bairner nonetheless sees a Batshuayi exit as "tough to believe" given Marseille don't have any other options of their own at present:

Former Standard Liege prodigy Batshuayi, 22, is rated as a hot prospect in Ligue 1 and has scored 14 goals in 25 starts for Marseille this season, boosting his reputation as one to watch in Europe, per WhoScored.com.

That said, the north London giants may have to take a step back if Batshuayi does extend his contract in France and force his Premier League suitors to re-evaluate their interest.