ARSENAL TRANSFER RUMOURS: Giroud, Van Persie, Arshavin, Rondon, And Djourou Involved In Recent Speculation

Arsenal are said to be on the verge of sealing their second notable addition of the summer. The Daily Telegraph claims that the Gunners are locked in negotiations with Montpellier over striker Olivier Giroud, with a fee in the region of £12 million set to be agreed within the next 48 hours.

Boss Arsene Wenger has been trailing Ligue Un's joint-top scorer for several months and now looks to have finally got his man. If completed the signing would add to that of Lukas Podolski, whose arrival has already been confirmed for £11.9 million.

Given Giroud is currently at Euro 2012, it is unlikely that, even if the clubs do reach an agreement, personal terms will be finalized until after the tournament.

The 25-year-old is not thought to be a replacement for Robin van Persie, whose future remains in doubt. Rather both the France international and Podolski have been targeted to provide extra firepower to a side that relied on Van Persie to score over 40 percent of its Premier League goals last season.

A powerful, yet technically adept, striker, Giroud would also offer Wenger a complimentary option up front.

Speculation, though, continues regarding Van Persie's future. The Daily Mail reports on claims in Italy that Serie A champions Juventus have sent director, and club legend, Pavel Nedved to meet the forward at the Dutch training camp during Euro 2012 in an effort to persuade him to move to Turin.

Allegedly the Old Lady are prepared to pay £25 million to Arsenal and offer Van Perise a deal worth £130,000 a week.

The deal for Giroud does makes it increasingly likely that Wenger will welcome offers for Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamkh and Chu-Young Park, none of whom have regularly convinced in an Arsenal shirt.

It would still appear doubtful, though, that Wenger will chase a second striker this summer. Reports have linked Arsenal with a move for Malaga's Salomon Rondon in recent weeks, with the Daily Star claiming that Chelsea have joined the pursuit for the £11 million-rated Venezuelan.

The 22-year-old is highly-rated but it would be a major surprise if Wenger were to use a major chunk of his budget on two players who are not all that dissimilar in style.

Perhaps to the great frustration of Wenger and Arsenal fans, one of the stars of the European Championships so far has been exiled Gunners midfielder Andrey Arshavin.

The 31-year-old, currently on-loan at Zenit St Petersburg, has played a key part for Russia as they have taken four points from two games. Those performances have unsurprisingly brought Arshavin's future back into sharp focus.

The Daily Mail reports that Arshavin is keen to quit Arsenal on a permanent deal this summer, however Arsenal and Zenit remain some ways apart in negotiating a fee. It is alleged that Arsenal want to recoup £8 million of the £15 million they paid to secure him back in 2009, while Zenit hope to pay closer to £5 million.

One man on Arsenal's books who looks to be staying for the foreseeable future is Johan Djourou. The Swiss center-back has been linked with a move away from the Emirates in a drive for more regular first-team action. But the 25-year-old has insisted he's happy to remain a Gunner.

I just want to deny what has been in the press about my transfer, he said on his Twitter account.

It isn't true at all. I have been at Arsenal for 10 years now and I am always committed.