Arsenal make approach to sign £35m winger + still working on midfielder deal [BBC]

The January transfer window is in full swing and managers are working hard on strengthening their squads and identifying targets for the summer so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest rumours. Today, Arsenal are linked with Ivan Perisic…

Arsenal have made an approach to sign Ivan Perisic on an initial loan deal from Inter Milan and are still working on bringing in another midfielder this month , according to BBC journalist David Ornstein.

Unai Emery is desperately trying to strengthen his squad during the winter window but the Arsenal boss is restricted to making loan signings as there is no money available for permanent deals until the summer.

A new winger is on the agenda as we have a distinct lack of width in the squad right now and Danny Welbeck has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle.

BBC journalist David Ornstein is now reporting that Arsenal have made an approach to Inter Milan to sign Ivan Perisic on loan until the end of the season with the option to make the move permanent for £35m this summer.

Perisic has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League in recent years with Man Utd among the clubs touted as potential suitors before he pledged his loyalty to the San Siro after signing a new five year contract in September 2017.

However, Ornstein says the Croatian international is now open to the idea of leaving Inter after a disappointing campaign and Arsenal are now hoping to lure him to the Emirates Stadium this month.

Perisic has been one of the top wingers in Europe over the past few years and he’s scored 34 goals in 142 appearances in Italy so I think he’d be an excellent short-term solution, However, I don’t think we should make it permanent as he turns 30 next month and we’d be mad to spend £35m on a player with no sell-on value who we’d just need to replace again in a couple of years.

The BBC journalist claims Emery is also hoping to sign a versatile midfielder before the window closes with Arsenal still working on possible deals for Denis Suarez and Christopher Nkunku.

Suarez has been strongly linked recently but we’ve struggled to agree terms with Barcelona while Nkunku emerged as a target late last week with Paris Saint-Germain reportedly ready to do-business if they can sign a replacement.

Both players are young and hungry to do well after struggling to establish themselves at their current clubs so I’d be please if we could sign either of Suarez or Nkunku before the end of the month.

READ–> Arsenal transfer news

Emery is also under increasing pressure to buy a new centre-back after both Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis picked up injuries last night, and with Rob Holding out for the season, we’re stretched in the middle of defence.

However, the club may wait to see how serious Koscielny’s jaw injury is before making a decision as the BBC claim Sokratis isn’t expected to be on the sidelines for too long.