With the final stages of the January transfer window edging closer, Arsenal appear to be set for a busy 11 days of business.
Unlike the summer, the Gunners are still without a signing to their name this window.
Instead, the priority has been offloading fringe players both permanently and on loan.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Folaring Balogun will both spend the rest of the season away from the Emirates Stadium, at Roma and Middlesbrough respectively, whilst Sead Kolasinac left the club permanently for Ligue 1 outfit Marseille.
But they aren’t the only deals that the North London side want to complete this month, here are the latest transfer rumours involving Mikel Arteta’s side.
Big money deal for Vlahovic
Arsenal are prepared to make Dusan Vlahovic their highest-earning player in a bid to secure the signature of the Serbian this month.
With Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette out of contract at the end of the season, Arteta wants to sign a striker as soon as possible.
And according to Italian news outlet Lanazione, the 21-year-old has been offered an unbelievable £308,000-per-week deal which would see his salary surpass that of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Vlahovic has scored 17 goals and assisted two in 21 appearances for the Serie A outfit so far this season and is seen as a long-term option to be the focal point of the Gunners’ attack as they look to re-establish themselves as title contenders.
Is Dusan Vlahovic worth breaking the bank for? Have your say in the comments!
Arthur 'packs his bags'
It is no secret that Arsenal are a body or two short in midfield, and Arteta is keen to ensure that isn’t the came come the 1st of February.
Juventus playmaker Arthur Melo is reportedly the top target to fill the void, but the Serie A outfit have appeared unwilling to part ways with the midfielder without it having a positive impact on them – may that be a fee or a player.
However, Arthur is hoping that he is able to push the deal over the line.
Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sport Witness, reports that the Brazilian is now desperate to leave Turin and have claimed that he is ‘pressing to pack his bags, flattered by Mikel Arteta and by a possible showcase’ so that he can retain his squad in the Brazil team for the World Cup.
Arsenal have reportedly offered Juve a six-month loan deal, but the Old Lady either want the player brought permanently or for Arthur to spend the next 18 months at the Emirates.
North London battle for Spence
After an impressive display against the Gunners for Nottingham Forest, right-back Djed Spence has captured the interest of Arteta.
The 21-year-old is on loan from Middlesbrough and has already represented Chris Wilder’s men this season and therefore cannot represent any other team this season.
But that hasn’t deterred interest from Arsenal and Tottenham as, according to the Evening Standard, both are interested in acquiring the services of the young Englishman.
It is thought that £12m would be required to strike a deal with Boro for Spence, which is a small price to pay for a long-term prospect.
With Cedric Soares set to leave the club in the not so distant future, Spence would provide cover for Takehiro Tomiyasu but also allow Arteta to play a back three with the new signing deployed as a wing-back, as Tomiyasu has played centre-back previously.
