Coming off a disappointing Premier League loss to Southampton, Arsenal will start their FA Cup campaign on Sunday when they host Hull City at the Emirates Stadium. Arsene Wenger is in the market for at least one player with a spot in next season’s Champions League in the balance, and thoughts of repeating as FA Cup champions.
Arsenal are currently in sixth place in the Premier League, and will host AS Monaco in the Round of 16 of the Champions League on Feb. 25. Wenger could use some new additions to a squad that has been plagued with injuries.
As usual, Arsenal are in the thick of January transfer rumors. The big names that have surfaced in recent weeks are Uruguay star forward Edison Cavani and 22-year-old Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho. Christoph Kramer, Sergio Busquets, and Fabio Coentrao have also made the rounds in Arsenal rumors.
The Gunners are reportedly one of the Premier League clubs showing interest in central midfielder Ilkay Gundogan. Borussia Dortmund is currently mired in a miserable season in the Bundesliga, and major changes may be on the way for the club, including moving not only Gundogan but Mats Hummels as well. Gundogan was considered an Arsenal target in Nov. 2013. The £20 million-rated 24-year-old has also received heavy interest from Manchester United, while Liverpool and Chelsea have also shown interest, according to The Express.
Daily Star reported that Arsenal are interested in Keita Balde Diao, a striker who plays for Lazio. The publication listed his valuation at about £15 million. The 19-year-old Spaniard came up through the Barcelona youth academy, and has scored five goals in 23 Serie A appearances.
Arsenal are also in the hunt for Teddy Bishop, an 18-year-old midfielder who plays for Ipswich Town, according to The Sun. Bishop has made 16 appearance for the club, and has a value of roughly £10 million.
While the Gunners are showing interest in adding players, one attacking player has exited the club and one more could leave soon. On Saturday, Lukas Podolski joined Inter Milan on loan for £1.5 million. The Mirror reported that Arsenal and Inter could have a permanent £5 million deal in the summer. Podolski, 29, has been used sparingly this season, and was considered a top candidate to leave Emirates from the start of the season.
Meanwhile, Alan Pardew, the new manager at Crystal Palace, is looking to add Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo, based a report in The Times. The lanky 21-year-old has made 11 appearances for the Gunners since joining the club in July 2013. Agency report
