ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS: Gunners Target Ilicic and Vertonghen While Chamakh and Rosicky May Exit

The British press continue to link Arsenal to several players, as the Gunners seek a second-half push to climb the Premier League table with the January transfer window looming.

Arsenal are in seventh place, and there are areas where the club could use an upgrade. Arsene Wenger's squad still have some key players sidelined with injuries, and some healthy and fresh faces would be helpful with the knockout stages of Champions League and the FA Cup around the corner.

The newest name to surface is Palermo midfielder Josip Ilicic. The 23-year-old Slovenian is valued at £25 million, according to Metro. Adding Ilicic at that price would be a change of course for the Arsenal, as the club has never paid £20 million for a player.

A more plausible transfer target is defender Jan Vertonghen. The Ajax skipper is rated at £10 million, according to The People, which has also linked the Belgium star to Tottenham. The Gunners continue to be hampered by injuries as Kieran Gibbs is consistently out of the lineup, Bacary Sagna is sidelined until January with an ankle injury, and serviceable full back Carl Jenkinson has back problems. Bringing Vertonghen to Emirates might be a vital move for the club.

While Arsenal look to add pieces, they may also be interested in unloading players that have may have over-stayed their welcome.

Paris St Germain may offer £10 million for Marouane Chamakh, according to Daily Mirror. The French club have money to spend, and is also interested in adding David Beckham on a free transfer as the famed midfielder's contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy is due to expire at the end of the year.

Receiving £10 million for Chamakh would likely be viewed as a great deal by Arsenal, as the 27-year-old striker has been used sparingly by Arsene Wenger. That amount could be applied to adding Vertonghen or to perhaps help lure German striker Lukas Podolski.

Arsenal have relied heavily on forward Robin van Persie, and there are some who think he might move on from the club when his contract expires in 2013. Adding a high-profile striker would provide insurance against van Persie leaving, while strengthening the club with an upgraded backup for the Dutch star.

More than likely, Arsenal will do whatever they can to retain van Persie. The 28-year-old striker has vaulted to superstar status this season, and the Gunners have already lost high-profile midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri over the summer.

Daily Mail reported that Manchester City were prepared to make an offer for van Persie. It would be hard to fathom that Arsenal would let another star player leave so soon, let alone to a Premier League squad that already has former Gunners Nasri and Gael Clichy.

According to Daily Mirror, Real Madrid are pursuing Jack Wilshere, which seems like a futile effort. The 19-year-old hasn't played this season, and Wenger probably has little interest in entertaining offers for another promising midfielder.

Arsenal moving Tomas Rosicky to Wolfsburg seems more plausible. Metro linked the Bundesliga club to the veteran Czech midfielder, who is valued at about £4.5 million.

The Gunners still have three notable young players on loan. Forwards Carlos Vela and Nicklas Bendtner, as well as midfielder Denilson, are all 23 or younger, and could figure into the summer's transfer window.