Arsenal Transfer News: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kostas Mitroglou, Latest Rumours

Southampton will reportedly make Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain their highest-paid player to tempt the England attacking midfielder into leaving Arsenal this summer.

The Saints' plans also include making Oxlade-Chamberlain vice-captain, per John Cross of the Daily Mirror.

Cross referenced the growing interest in Oxlade-Chamberlain and the competition Southampton will have to beat for a player worried about his playing time with the Gunners:

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They are determined to fend off competition from Manchester City, West Ham and Chelsea as the 22-year-old will consider his future at the end of the season.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is happy at Arsenal but is desperate to play more first team football to strengthen his career and England prospects.

He has got two years left on his current deal at the Emirates and that has alerted several clubs as they believe Arsenal may be tempted to sell.

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The Saints have reportedly already been laying the groundwork to seal this transfer. In another report for the Mirror, Cross revealed how club captain, centre-back Jose Fonte, has been speaking to the midfielder about returning to his old stomping ground.

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Southampton sold one of their brightest young talents to Arsenal five years ago. But a litany of injuries, an inability to pick a definite position and general inconsistency have combined to make Oxlade-Chamberlain a major flop during recent seasons.

Still only 22, Oxlade-Chamberlain has room to develop, but it's debatable whether he'll ever reach his potential at the Emirates Stadium.

As an attacker, the England international is often too quick to take on a shot, a trait that doesn't fit with the collective game Gunners boss Arsene Wenger preaches. Oxlade-Chamberlain's penchant for shooting wouldn't be a bad thing if he found the net more often.

But his lack of end product was best summed up by netting just one league goal this season, according to WhoScored.com.

It's time for Wenger to move on from a player who has had enough chances to realise his obvious potential. Even without Oxlade-Chamberlain, the Gunners are well-stocked in the attacking midfield areas and the flanks, thanks to players such as Aaron Ramsey, Alexis Sanchez, Joel Campbell and Mesut Ozil.

Where Wenger's squad really needs help is a little further forward.

Gunners Keen on Mitroglou

Wenger's seemingly neverending search for a striker has apparently led only as far as Championship side Fulham, with the Frenchman reportedly asking about the availability of Kostas Mitroglou.

Portuguese publication A Bola (h/t Metro's Mark Brus) reported the talks, although he still stressed "no official bid has been made." The same source has also claimed Mitroglou is close to agreeing a permanent switch to Benfica, where he is thriving on loan this season.

The 28-year-old Greek international has scored 20 times in domestic and UEFA Champions League action, per WhoScored.com.

Lucas Sposito of Sport Witness has detailed just how keen the player is on remaining at Benfica: "According to A Bola, Mitroglou has already reached a verbal agreement to sign a four-year deal at Benfica. The club will pay Fulham €7m for the transfer and only a very good offer would make the player change his mind."

But if Wenger and the Gunners can change Mitroglou's mind, they should, even though the club's supporters may not be enamoured by the idea of signing a forward who did little to impress at Fulham.

Mitroglou signed for Fulham in a deal worth £11 million in 2014 but managed just a single start and two substitute appearances without finding the net, according to BBC Sport.

That's hardly a fair sample size for the player to show his talent. Surrounded by better players, Mitroglou is currently showing what he's really about.

He's mobile and clever in the box and confident in front of goal. Adept in the air and decisive on the deck, Mitroglou offers poacher's qualities current Arsenal centre-forwards Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck simply don't possess.

Those calling for some star names to solve the Gunners problems up front should consider the teams Arsenal trail in the Premier League title race. Both Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City have thrived despite shunning the marquee names and bloated transfer fees.

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Spurs stayed patient with Harry Kane's development, while Leicester rolled the dice on one-time non-league striker, Jamie Vardy. Now the prolific pair sit atop the Premier League's top scorers standings, per Squawka.

Mitroglou may not hit those heights at Arsenal, but he'd be a classic Wenger signing whom the Frenchman would shape into a better player and a very useful striker.

With issues at the heart and edges of defence to fix, as well as finding at least two strikers, Wenger needs to spread the transfer funds wisely this summer. Recruiting Mitroglou would be a good start.