ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS: M’Vila, Alvarez, Belhanda, Van Persie Involved In Latest Rumors

Despite recent good form, last night's 2-1 defeat to Wigan (watch highlights here) showed once more that Arsenal still need strengthening if they are to push-on for a serious title challenge next season.

Two players who have repeatedly been linked with a move to the Emirates this summer are French pair Yann M'Vila and Younes Belhanda.

It has been reported on Tuesday that Inter are also interested in the duo and will contest their signings with Arsenal, according to Corriere dello Sport, via TalkSport.

M'Vila is a defensive midfielder, who was reportedly the subject of an Arsenal bid last summer but found the French international to be out of the club's prudent price range. Sure to be highly sought-after this close season, the Metro also report Inter's interest in the player as part of a bid to lure French coach Laurent Blanc to the club.

The 21-year-old may prefer a move to North London, not only because of the French influence at the club but also because Arsenal is likelier to be able to offer Champions League soccer next season. However, the club will need to be willing to stump up the £20 million- (32m) plus it would take to lure him away from Rennes.

Belhanda is more of an attacking midfielder and will perhaps be seen as a replacement for Samir Nasri, who departed last summer. The 22-year-old has been a key player in a Montpellier team that has surprised French soccer by occupying top spot in Ligue 1.

Playing mainly in the No. 10 role, Belhanda has scored 10 goals from 25 appearances in Ligue 1 so far this campaign. And Wenger has already admitted that he is a fan.

I know Younes well and like him a lot, Wenger said last month, according to Soccernet. But I don't want to cause problems. Only Montpellier can decide where he goes.

And Belhanda, too, has said that he would be keen on a move to Arsenal.

My dream is to play in England or Germany. Everybody wants to play in the Premier League and there are some great clubs like Arsenal, which is almost a French club, he told French TV station TF1, according to Soccernet.

If a deal for Belhanda does not materialize, it appears Arsenal may be keeping their options open by continuing their interest in Inter Milan's Ricky Alvarez, according to Tribal Football. The Argentinian, of course, was close to a move to the Emirates last summer before Inter stepped in.

While the 24-year-old has been far from an ever-present this season--largely through injury--Alvarez has put in some impressive performances and it would be a surprise if Inter were to let him leave after just one season.

Though, with the managerial situation still uncertain at the troubled club, anything is possible.

In surely the most spurious news of the day, the Daily Mail, has reported that Robin van Persie was spotted leaving the Barcelona team hotel in London late last night, apparently swelling rumors that the Dutch striker will be off to Catalonia come the season's end.

As the story suggests, a far more reasonable explanation is that Van Persie was meeting-up with his former Gunners team mate Cesc Fabregas or fellow-Dutchman Ibrahim Afellay.

While Van Persie's future remains uncertain as he delays talks over a new contract, it would be a surprise if the Camp Nou was his next destination. Barcelona has Lionel Messi flourishing in the false-nine position and, although coach Pep Guardiola is constantly looking to evolve his team, Van Persie's addition to the forward line would seem a strange fit at this stage.