Arsenal Transfer News: Rooney, Fabregas, Higuain And Wanyama Involved In Latest Speculation

Arsene Wenger has revealed that he is interested in bringing unsettled Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney to Arsenal this summer. There has been much speculation over the England international’s future since United’s outgoing manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed that the player had handed in a transfer request in the closing weeks of the season. Rooney has denied that a formal request was made, but it has not stopped him from being linked to the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

But Wenger has now said that it is not just those clubs that would be keen on the 27-year-old. "Rooney could be an interesting player for everybody in the world, who would turn him down?" Wenger told Al Jazeera. "David Moyes' first challenge is to go in to Manchester and bridge the gap between him and Rooney. If that is feasible or not depends on his personality and if Rooney bears a grudge or not -- we will see. It will be interesting to see how that will be handled."

It has been reported that Arsenal have held internal discussions about the feasibility of a transfer and are now considering making an offer. The chances of Rooney moving to the Emirates still appear slim, however. While Arsenal’s strict wage structure could well be relaxed with significant investment expected this summer, it is still unfeasible to think that they will match Rooney’s reported wages of close to £300,000 a week.

Another high-profile player whose future has been called into question in recent weeks is Cesc Fabregas. The Barcelona midfielder has struggled to impose himself at the Camp Nou and has been linked with Manchester United, Manchester City and even a return to Arsenal. A clause in the deal that saw Fabregas leave the Emirates for Barcelona in 2011 gives Arsenal first option were he to be sold. And Wenger has also discussed the Spain international’s situation.

"I think at the moment he's lacking the confidence of being a regular player,” he said. “Recently he has not been that. Cesc is such a passionate player, a player of such quality, that it must hurt him not to play in every single game. That's what he misses. When you come in and out you never play with full confidence."

With Arsenal looking for a top striker this summer, the club have been talked of in connection of a move for Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain. Madrid have recently revealed that the Argentina international will depart at the end of the season. And the player has now confirmed his desire to leave.

“I am leaving Real Madrid, the decision has been made, I feel the time is right and I want a change of scenery,” he said, according to ESPN. “I have not decided where I will go, but the club already know that I want to go. It was my decision. I feel that this is the end of my cycle here. I came here for £10 million and I am leaving for more.”

Higuain has been strongly linked with Juventus and he admitted that they were an option. “Yes, they are a possibility but I do not know,” he explained. “I want to go where I can prove myself really. I have several offers. I hope that [Madrid] do the best for me and for themselves.”

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Celtic’s Victor Wanyama for quite some time. And with the Gunners having a need for a defensive midfielder Wenger could make a move for the Kenyan this summer. According to the 21-year-old’s former coach at the JMJ Youth Academy at Nairobi, that move could be on the cards.

"Victor's father, Noah, calls me almost every week and he tells me Arsenal's interest is big," Jean-Marie Abeels told the Daily Mail. "Wenger spoke to Celtic around a month ago and Victor's father and his mother, Mildred, says he would prefer to go there before any other club. I will be speaking to his parents again in a week's time and Victor also. But I already know that Arsenal have a big interest in the player.”

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