Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Djibril Sidibe, Julian Draxler Rumours

Arsenal reportedly want to beat Ligue 1 side AS Monaco to Lille wing-back Djibril Sidibe, after Gunners boss Arsene Wenger deemed the 23-year-old defender a "priority," according to French publication L'Equipe (h/t Goal's Alex Young).

The reports spelled out exactly why Wenger rates Sidibe so highly: "However, Arsene Wenger has deemed the defender 'a priority' as he looks to bolster his options at the back with Sidibe, who can play on either flank, stalling on signing off on a move to Monaco."

More details have been provided by Get French Football News in an article that's also cast some doubt on the chances of any potential deal involving Arsenal:

"

However, in recent hours, Arsenal have concretely approached the player’s entourage concerning the possibility of a move. Arsène Wenger has made this situation a priority.

Now Arsenal and Monaco wait for the final word from the player. At present, he appears most likely to still be set to join AS Monaco, and, honestly, there is a possibility that concerned individuals have planted this story simply to expedite wage discussions between Monaco and the player…

"

Writing for Sport Witness, Tom Coast also relayed how Monaco remain favourites for the 23-year-old Frenchman, who is expected to cost €15 million (£12.8 million), per the original report from L'Equipe.

Yet it's understandable that the Gunners would be linked with a player capable of playing on either side of defence or midfield. In particular, Wenger may need to address his squad's cover at full-back ahead of the new season.

Both Mathieu Debuchy and Kieran Gibbs have been linked with moves away. The former was linked with Lyon back in May, per France Football (h/t TalkSport). Meanwhile, Gibbs could join Liverpool, according to Football Insider's Wayne Veysey.

Losing both Gibbs and Debuchy would leave the Gunners threadbare behind Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin. Sidibe would likely be cover for both, per Matt Spiro of beIN Sports, who also described some of the player's core strengths:

Signing some cover for the back four would be a wise move from Wenger, even though €15 million seems like a steep fee for a reserve.

Gunners Linked with Offer for Julian Draxler

As much as he needs to address his defence this summer, bolstering his options in attack remains Wenger's greater priority during this transfer window. In this context, it's easy to make sense of reported interest in Julian Draxler, a long-term Arsenal target.

The Gunners have been linked with a €50 million (£42.6 million) offer for the Wolfsburg attacker, according to a broadcast from ESPN (h/t Toby Gannon of the Sun). Gannon calls Wenger a "known admirer" of Draxler.

Michael Probst/Associated Press

Indeed, this isn't the first time Arsenal have been linked with the gifted 22-year-old. In fact, he was a target back in 2013, per Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph, who reported in November that year: "Draxler was of serious interest to Arsene Wenger last summer before he eventually spent £42 million on Ozil, but the 20-year-old attacking midfielder is a player who Arsenal scouts are continuing to monitor."

Wilson also carried quotes from the player talking up the idea of joining the Gunners: "You never know what happens in the summer, but Arsenal is a very, very nice team. They always have very young players, they play attractive football and that's what I like."

Draxler even stated he turned down a move to north London in January of 2014, according to BBC Sport's David Ornstein. Yet the links between player and club haven't gone away.

More recently, French publication France Football (h/t Charlie Phillippe of the Daily Express) named Arsenal as one of three Premier League clubs, along with Liverpool and Manchester United, keen on Draxler.

Wolfsburg president Klaus Allofs told German outlet Bild (h/t Phillippe) how Draxler "dreams" of playing for bigger clubs but insisted the Bundesliga side still expect him to honour his contract.

Draxler would be an ideal fit for the Gunners as a player who can strike from either flank and even be converted to play through the middle. He's tall, strong, quick and decisive in the final third, always trusting his ability to shoot from distance.

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

As technically capable as any young attacking midfielder in Europe, Draxler has the potential to develop into a major star in world football. He would benefit immensely from Wenger's tutelage, as well as Arsenal's fluid and expansive brand of passing football.

With Draxler on the left and Alexis Sanchez on the right, where the latter's movement is always more varied, the Gunners would boast a versatile and potentially lethal forward line.

Signing Draxler is one deal Wenger should do all he can to make happen.