Arsenal Transfers: Karim Benzema and Top 5 Rumors

The January transfer window is right around the corner and the rumors, grumblings or potential Arsenal moves are heating up the media wire.

Arsene Wenger has his work cut out for him come January as the window is slated to be a busy one for all clubs across the board and the Frenchman will be expected to make something happen to improve the club.

From massive money deals being mentioned for stars on the continent and a major club possibly readying a swoop for Robin Van Persie, let's look at the day's top Gunners Gossip.

Etienne Capoue

Arsene Wenger is thought to be making an offer of around £10 million to French side Toulouse for midfielder Etienne Capoue.

The Daily Mirror reports that Wenger has been forced to move for the 23-year-old as the alternative to £25 million option Yann M'Vila whom the Gunners are not likely to have enough spending power to land.

Lucho Gonzalez

Another France-based midfielder looking to make a switch to Arsenal is Olympique Marseille's 30-year-old Lucho Gonzalez.

The Daily Mirror once again have the story as the player has hinted that he is ready and willing to make the switch to Arsenal.

However, his age may rule him out of a move to the Emirates as Wenger is likely to stay with a youth signing structure despite his late moves for veterans Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun in August.

Marouane Chamakh

Arsenal are being courted by French side Bordeaux as they claim to be actively attempting to re-sign EPL flop Marouane Chamakh according to the Daily Mirror.

However, Bordeaux president Jean Louis Triaud has admitted to not being able to maintain contact over the move which could see the player earn the Gunners around £6 million after they had landed him for free 18 months ago.

Karim Benzema

Real Madrid's French striker Karim Benzema was a believed Arsenal target in the summer window but nothing came to fruition.

The Daily Mail is now reporting that Arsene Wenger and the Gunners could be back in for the striker that has scored 14 goals so far this season in Spain as support for Robin Van Persie.

Robin Van Persie

The latest news on a possible Robin Van Persie January exit has come with a massive offer rumored to have been tossed around by Real Madrid according to Caughtoffside.

While the form of van Persie should keep him in London and the current place of the team moving up the table will most likely keep the Dutchman happy for now, if Wenger was to get a load of cash plus target Karim Benzema for the deal it might change things.