A new day brings a fresh crop of transfer rumours for Arsenal fans to contend with- and as usual, Jonathan Kaney has been poking through the lot to find the interesting ones and give his view!
Real Madrid maintain Alexis interest (Metro)
The Metro are reporting that Real Madrid will come back in for Alexis Sanchez in January, despite the Chilean pledging his future to the Gunners.
With Sanchez arguably the most in-form forward in Europe and Madrid heavily reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo for goals, reports are still continuing to link Rafa Benitez with a move for the Arsenal talisman. As a proven goal scorer and superb team player, Sanchez would add some aggression to a Real team blessed with sublime individual quality, but lacking as a team unit under his stewardship so far.
Despite the reports and the obvious lure for a South American player of Real Madrid, Sanchez has been there and done it at Barcelona, and I doubt he would jump on the Galactico merry-go-round with his standing in English football so high.
With the likes of Benzema, Ronaldo, Bale, James and Jese already battling for a place in the Real squad, it’s unlikely Sanchez would pack in his legendary status at the Gunners to battle for a place in their team.
Isco wants to leave Real Madrid (Daily Star)
Daily Star reports indicate that Chelsea and Arsenal are on red alert after creative magician Isco has handed requested an exit from Real Madrid, presumably frustrated with his lack of game.
Isco is an exceptionally classy midfielder and the free-flowing attacking football the Gunners play would be an ideal platform to get the best out of his creative flair and passing ability. He would be a fantastic luxury to have to provide competition for Ozil in the centre of the pitch, but with the German in such superb form, unless the Spaniard was prepared to play out wide, he could well face the same situation at Arsenal that he does at Madrid in not being a first choice number ten.
Arsenal to splash £68m on Higuain (Mirror)
The Mirror are reporting that Arsenal will meet Gonzalo Higuain’s £68m release clause to bring him to the Emirates in the summer.
Arsene Wenger has tracked the Argentine since his Madrid days and with the 27-year-old scoring seven goals in nine Serie A games so far this season, his recent form may have convinced Wenger that he is the man to lead the Gunners line next season.
There’s no doubt Higuain is a world class player with a great pedigree, but I would have serious concerns about paying that amount for a player unproven in the Premier League and who is prone to huge drops in consistency. I would be very surprised if Arsene Wenger splashed out that amount on any player other than Cavani.