Transfer Rumor: Arsenal Set to Make Record-Breaking £17m January Bid for German Wonderkid?

If the newest reported rumors are to be believed, English club football heavyweights Arsenal have their sights set on young German playmaker Mario Gotze and will make an attempt to land him when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger previously tried to sign the 19-year-old attacking midfielder last summer but the approach was cut short by Gotze's club, Borussia Dortmund, who resisted negotiations for the starlet. However, that could change this season owing to the fact that Dortmund's Champions League campaign is almost at an end. The bid may also get a lifeline as a result of the youngster's insistence to join one of Europe's elite clubs.

The Gunners have reportedly been trailing Gotze for some time, as have many other big names in Europe and the all but certain elimination of the club from this season's UEFA Champions League will greatly aid in their cause to sign the starlet. The German club has only one point from their opening three games of the tournament.

Gotze has been seen as an ideal replacement for Frenchman Samir Nasri, who left for Manchester City and seems to be the kind of player who could easily fit into Wenger's style of football. It is also believed that a £17m bid may turn out to be a bit of a bargain for such a promising player.

Elsewhere, a number of Arsenal players have been linked with moves away from the Emirates Stadium in January. Players like Manuel Almunia, Marouane Chamakh and Sebastian Squillaci may leave the London club permanently this January.

Gotze, who primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and a right winger for Borussia Dortmund, is considered to be an upcoming and potentially world-class player. His game is built around speed, technical skill and creativity on the ball. He is a product of Dortmund's youth academy and made his Bundesliga debut in November 2009 in a 0-0 draw against 1. FSV Mainz 05 when he came on as a substitute in the dying minutes of the game. He has since made 46 appearances for Dortmund and has managed to find the back of the net eight times.

The German Football Association's technical director, Matthias Sammer, called him one of the best talents that we've ever had.