Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Bruno Peres and Ashley Williams Rumours

Arsenal continue to study options to strengthen their defence and plan a bid for Torino’s Bruno Peres—but they could lose the signature of Swansea City defender Ashley Williams to Everton.

Toro News (h/t Jamie Styles of the Daily Star) reported that Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has made a £13.5 million move for Brazilian right-back, but the bid is short of the Italian club's £17 million valuation.

The 26-year-old arrived in Turin from Santos in 2014 and has impressed with his raiding performances out wide, and he is capable of deputising as a winger. He is an individual who is blessed with pace and dribbling ability—and he would offer the Gunners a credible threat from deep.

Alessandro Di Marco/Associated Press

Italian football correspondent Adam Digby recently wrote about Peres and debated whether the direct style of the Brazilian would suit Wenger's possession tactics, or that of potential suitor Pep Guardiola at Manchester City:

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But while his pace and dynamism are perfect for a Torino side who thrive on the counterattack, it would be interesting to see how Peres would fare in a team that regularly dominates possession. That is almost always the case for Arsenal, while it is difficult to imagine anything else of a Pep Guardiola-led Manchester City when the 2016/17 campaign gets underway.

Perhaps it would not be too much of a transition for the Sao Paulo native however. Both teams employ a pressing style that sees them needing to quickly shift from defence to attack, albeit much higher up the field that he has become accustomed to with Torino. The prospect of Peres there – surrounded by high calibre team-mates and running with the ball into a central position as the opposition scrambles to recover their shape – is a mouth-watering one for anyone who has watched him regularly at the Stadio Olimpico.

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Here is a video of the player in action:

Peres has started 58 games for The Bull over two seasons in Serie A, scoring six goals and providing seven assists, according to WhoScored.com. However, the defender is known for his fiery temper and has been cautioned 17 times over two years.

As the Gunners eye Peres, the chase for Wales hero Williams could be over, as he reportedly prepares for a potential switch to Everton.

Chris Wathan of Wales Online reported the player is set to complete a £10 million transfer to Merseyside as the Toffees ponder additions to their squad. 

Arsenal have been repeatedly linked with Williams and were also contemplating a £10 million move, with two years left on his deal with the Swans, per Neil Fissler of the Express.

Huw Davies of FourFourTwo questioned the logic behind Williams' valuation:

Michel Spingler/Associated Press

Williams would have been a strong auxiliary signing for Arsenal as they attempt to plug the hole left by Per Mertesacker, who is out injured.

Wenger desperately needs to find a reliable centre-back, and the Swansea player has plenty of Premier League experience to call upon.

The defender is not a typical Arsenal player, but the north London giants need a no-nonsense individual at the heart of the defence to allow the midfield to stay on the front foot and play the attacking football the manager demands.

Eventually, Wenger is going to need to buy a defender who is blessed in the industrial arts of the game, and Williams would have been an economical punt for the Gunners.