Arsenal Transfer News: Nani, Ba, Diame And Begovic Discussed In Latest Speculation

Arsenal could launch an audacious move to sign Manchester United winger Nani in the January transfer window, according to Tuesday’s Daily Mail. There has been much speculation over the Portugal international’s future in recent months as he has yet to sign an extension to a contract that expires in 18 months’ time. If no agreement is reached then a move next month or in the summer could well be on the cards.

It has been widely reported that Nani was close to a move to Russian club Zenit St Petersburg in the summer, but the transfer broke down over the player’s wage demands.

Given that the 26-year-old is likely to demand a large salary if and when he moves, Arsenal would seem like an unlikely next destination. A January deal would also be problematic because Nani would be cup-tied for the Champions League.

According to Metro, Arsenal are eager to sign a powerful midfield presence. The story claims that manager Arsene Wenger has lost patience with the injury-plagued Abou Diaby. After returning to fitness at the start of the season and playing a key role in the team’s impressive beginning to the campaign, Diaby has been sidelined with a thigh strain since the end of September.

Metro reports that Wenger will now turn his attentions to securing West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame. The Senegal international only joined West Ham on a free transfer from Wigan in the summer and is reported to have a buyout clause in his contract. According to Metro, the clause is valued at £3.5 million.

Any move could be compromised, however, by the fact that Diame suffered a hamstring injury at the weekend that could rule him out for three months.

Wenger’s priority in January, though, could well be to recruit a striker. Recent days have seen Newcastle’s Demba Ba listed as a major target. Speculation has mounted that Ba’s £7.5 million buyout clause will be triggered in January, with both Arsenal and Liverpool named as suitors for the 27-year-old.

According to the Daily Mirror, if Newcastle cannot convince Ba to sign a new deal then they will look to move him on in the first week of the transfer window in order that they can find a replacement.

Ba has scored 10 goals in 16 Premier League appearances so far this season.

Recent reports have also suggested that Wenger may be looking to bring in a goalkeeper to provide competition for Wojciech Szczesny. One of the names mentioned is Stoke’s Asmir Begovic and the Bosnian has said that he is flattered to be linked with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

"It's very flattering," Begovic told Sky Sports News.

"It's positive feedback from other teams that people are looking at you and mentioning you with those teams.

"It's no secret that everyone has their own ambitions and they want to be playing at the highest level possible.

"But right now I'm just focused on taking Stoke forward and I think the club here has a lot of ambitions; the chairman, the manager and everyone else included.

"So we just want to keep pushing this club forwards and see how far we can take it."