Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Calum Chambers, Takuma Asano Rumours

Calum Chambers will reportedly be allowed to leave on loan provided Arsenal complete the signing of a new centre-back, widely believed to be Valencia's Shkodran Mustafi.

Manager Arsene Wenger outlined his plans for young utility man Chambers, speaking at his morning press conference on Friday, per the club's official site. Wenger was asked what a new addition would mean for Chambers' Arsenal career, and he responded: "Future? No. The fact that he could go out somewhere and play? Yes."

Wenger later offered a more explicit response regarding Chambers: "With Joel Campbell going out, Calum Chambers maybe will go on loan somewhere." Sami Mokbel of MailOnline had previously confirmed Arsenal's plans to loan Chambers: "Arsene Wenger has decided Chambers needs regular game time to aid his development this season."

Those plans have now been accelerated with a deal for Mustafi inching ever closer. Sky Germany's Marc Behrenbeck explained the state of this pending transfer:

Adding Mustafi will push Chambers even further down the pecking order, despite the injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista. Their absence gave Chambers a chance to impress alongside newbie Rob Holding in the Gunners' first Premier League game of the season.

However, their partnership crumbled during a 4-3 home defeat to Liverpool. Chambers was summarily dropped for the next game, with Wenger rushing Laurent Koscielny back to support Holding in a 0-0 draw against champions Leicester City.

Things haven't gone to plan for Chambers since he signed from Southampton for £16 million in 2014. It represented a hefty investment for an untested teenager.

The player's versatility initially recommended him. Yet Chambers has since struggled to make right-back, centre-back or holding midfielder his best position.

Holding has shown some promise this season and will at least be a competent back-up behind Koscielny and prospective new arrival Mustafi. So it makes sense for Chambers to try and restart his development elsewhere.

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Premier League rivals West Ham United and Serie A outfit Roma are among those already interested in the 21-year-old, according to Squawka's Greg Stobart.

Takuma Asano Seals Loan Move

One Arsenal player who has already secured a loan move is striker Takuma Asano. The Japanese attacker has been sent to Stuttgart on a season-long deal, per Andy Charles of Sky Sports.

Wenger signed the J-League prospect from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earlier this summer. However, the 21-year-old couldn't secure a work permit to appear in England's top flight this season.

That decision prompted this sarcastic retort from Wenger as a way of explaining, per Goal's Oliver Platt: "Because he didn’t cost £50 million."

Asano told Stuttgart he's delighted to have secured a new temporary footballing home:

It's now up to the striker to make the most of the loan switch and show he merits a quick return to England by producing performances guaranteed to secure him a permit.

In the meantime, Wenger's squad should still be well-stocked up front. Lucas Perez is close to joining from La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna, according to John Cross and Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror.

Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott are Arsenal's other options in attack. All need to prove their consistency to help inspire a sustained title challenge this season.