Arsenal Transfer News: Drogba, Samper, Sagna and Boakye-Yiadom Involved in Latest Speculation

There may still be concerns about the goal-scoring ability in the Arsenal side following the departure of Robin van Persie, but it appears that the club won't be making a dramatic move for former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

Reports had linked the Gunners with a free transfer for the Ivory Coast international on the back of speculation that his contract could be cancelled at Shanghai Shenhua. Drogba reportedly earns a massive £200,000 a week in China and there had been claims that a dispute among shareholders at the club was putting that deal in jeopardy.

But Wenger says he has no plans to sign the 34-year-old.

"At the moment no. In my opinion he is not free. He has just left England," he said, according to the Daily Mail.

"I don't know about the situation because he came out with a completely different statement.

"You hear he might go to Real Madrid - but then he says 'I am staying in China.' Is it just because he wants to be paid off? I don't know."

After two goalless draws, Arsenal finally got on the score sheet last time out in a 2-0 victory over Liverpool. New signing Olivier Giroud is already under some pressure, though, having failed to score and missing some highly presentable chances.

In other speculation, Arsenal have been linked with a move for Barcelona youngster Sergi Samper. The 17-year-old is said to have played a starring role in Barcelona's victory over Tottenham in the NextGen Series at White Hart Lane on Thursday night.

Samper is interesting both Arsenal and Manchester City, according to the Daily Mail. The midfielder is likened to current Barcelona pass-master Xavi, although more frequent comparisons are made to veteran Italian playmaker Andrea Pirlo.

Arsenal's interest in Samper has been known for some time. Last summer the Gunners reportedly pushed hard to try and sign the player at the same time that they recruited fellow-Barcelona youth products Jon Toral and Hector Bellerin.

The Catalan giants were less than impressed with Arsenal's snapping up of Toral, calling it "immoral." There is plenty of history between the sides with Arsenal having signed Cesc Fabregas from their Masia academy at 16 years of age. With that background it is difficult to envisage Arsenal being able to procure Samper.

One young player that does appear to have his eyes on a move to the Emirates is Ghana international Richmond Boakye-Yiadom. The forward joined Juventus from Genoa in the summer but has subsequently moved on-loan to Serie B side Sassuolo, where he also enjoyed a successful spell last season.

Speaking about his future, the 19-year-old said he can aims to play in the Premier League in the future, with Arsenal one of the clubs high on his list of potential destinations.

"I will go back to Juventus next season and fight for a regular place to be able to prove myself more," he told Graphic Sports. "My dream is to play in the English Premier League--hopefully Manchester United in the next few years, but I can end up in Chelsea or probably Arsenal."

Meanwhile, manager Arsene Wenger has said that he has had a meeting with Bacary Sagna to discuss the defender's negative comments about the club's transfer policy. Sagna expressed his disappointment at the sale of Alex Song coming after that of Robin van Persie.

While he claimed that there is no problem with the France international, Wenger stated his belief that any Arsenal player who is not happy at the club has a simple solution.

"I believe any player or any employee always has to defend the company he works for," Wenger said, according to the Guardian. "And if he is not completely happy with it, then he has to go somewhere else. That is basically what I think. That is what I say to everybody."