Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Rob Holding

Manchester City are reportedly ready to ignore Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger'a warnings and make an offer for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain next month. Meanwhile, centre-back Rob Holding will be allowed to leave the club on loan.

According to The Sun's Mike McGrath, the Citizens are hunting a £25 million move for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has just over 18 months remaining on his contract and is yet to be handed a new deal at the Emirates Stadium.

City manager Pep Guardiola has been linked with a move for the former Southampton winger in the past, and McGrath mentioned in his report that Oxlade-Chamberlain is set to "assess all his options next month."

Wenger recently reassured his player he intends to keep him at the north London club despite approaching the end of his contract, per the Press Association's Nick Purewal (h/t Daily Mail):

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I want Oxlade-Chamberlain to stay at the club. I bought him at a very young age, I think he's developing well. This season he's making steps, moving forward.

When you've invested so much time and work in a player, and the player loves it here and is integrated in the qualities we want him to have..... overall, I want him to stay.

I believe that first Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's career, like Theo Walcott's career, has been stopped many times by injuries.

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Even if Oxlade-Chamberlain were to sign a new deal at the Emirates, however, there's a question as to whether the speedster would be content vying for a place in the side after starting in 12 of his 23 outings so far this season.

The 23-year-old is far from being a consistent starter in the Gunners lineup, although Opta statistician Orbinho recently illustrated the player as boasting one of Arsenal's most impressive records for impact on goal:

Despite struggling to weave his way into Wenger's starting plans, Oxlade-Chamberlain has managed to score six goals and record six assists this term while competing with the likes of Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi.

The competition would be just as severe—if not worse—at the Etihad Stadium, and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright recently questioned the midfielder's bit-part role with the Gunners when he appeared on BBC Radio 5 live Sport:

Moving to City would see Oxlade-Chamberlain swap current midfield team-mates for the likes of David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Nolito, Jesus Navas and Leroy Sane, all of whom could well beat the England international into Guardiola's XI.

Arsenal fans need not panic over Oxlade-Chamberlain's future at the club just yet, but doubt regarding his plans may grow as he counts down to the final year of his deal in north London.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are understood to have made central defender Holding available for loan this winter, according to Neil Moxley of the Sunday People.

Holding joined Arsenal from Bolton Wanderers in a £2.5 million deal this past summer, and Wenger is said to be keen to see his centre-back receive more first-team minutes before returning to his parent outfit.