The Sunday press has gone hyperactive on transfer speculation, as you’d expect on 1 January.
A couple of days previously, Wenger said: “I’m trying to shop. If we find one player that is good already. One who can play in midfield or defence as well. I would prefer a permanent deal because a loan is always a bit tricky.
“He would need experience, or [to] be a big talent. That is all we need. It is difficult to find the right players in January because they are cup-tied in Europe or they are players no one else wants to lose, because many clubs are playing for something.”
Yet the Sunday press would have Vieira returning, Eto in for Henry in the summer and any of around ten names – mainly midfielders.
The Sunday Times says Arsene Wenger could have up to £30m. It says Arsenal are linked with Gonzalo de los Santos (Valencia), Papa Bouba Diop (Fulham), Olivier Dacourt (Roma), Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton), Emmanuel Adebayor (Monaco), Didier Zokora (St Etienne), Ousmane Dabo (Lazio), Marco Caneira (Valencia). Bit late the latter as he’s already gone elsewhere.
It says the likely business will be Dacourt as a temporary replacement, with De Los Santos more permanent.
De Los Santos, a Uruguayan international provides defensive cover from the midfield. He has a high workrate and is a tenacious tackler but offers little in the way of creativity but is a crucial protective shield.
The Independent on Sunday says a central midfielder remains a priority but Arsène Wenger wants to wait until May. It reports that Didier Zokora’s agent believes his client will be at Arsenal by 31 January but that’s been denied.
It says that Wenger may bid for Theo Walcott and remains interested in Emmanuel Adebayor the six foot four muscular Monaco striker who plays for Togo.
In terms of possible deals it says Wenger has watched Feyenoord’s midfielder Hossam Ghaly and Salomon Kalou, but Dirk Kuyt won’t leave until summer.
Meanwhile, previously the daily Independent says Arsene’s budget is anything between £20m and £60m with a need for a central midfielder and striker.
The paper says Arsenal are linked with Emmanuel Adebayor (striker, Monaco), Theo Walcott (forward, Southampton), Olivier Dacourt (midfielder, Roma), Dirk Kuyt (striker) and Hossam Ghaly (midfielder, both Feyenoord), Didier Zakora (midfielder, St Etienne)
It predicts Arséne Wenger will bid for Walcott, Adebayor and Zakora.
However a lot of that will be redundant if a story in the People has a shred of truth.
According to the paper, Arsene Wenger wants to make peace with Patrick Vieira and welcome him back to Highbury.
It says Vieira has failed to settle in Italy since his move to Juventus last summer and that the Frenchman is unhappy about the racist element in Italian football and has told close friends that he misses the club.
Arsenal’s French scout Gilles Grimandi is in touch with Vieira and can act as a go-between. The paper posits that Wenger has spoken to Grimandi about ‘peace moves’.
Meanwhile the paper also says, Arsenal will demand Samuel Eto’o and at least £20million before they even consider selling Thierry Henry to Barcelona. It says Wenger, who wants to keep Henry will insist Cameroon international Eto’o is part of any deal that takes Henry to Barcelona.
It also says says Man City face a battle to keep young hitman Micah Richards. He is is teaming up with agent Jerome Anderson, amid rumours Liverpool and Arsenal are waiting in the wings.
And it says several Premiership clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool, are tracking American defender Bobby Boswell. The 22-year-old DC United star plays in the MLS.
However, an article in the Daily Telegraph would cast doubt on some of these targets.
It is about Nicklas Bendtner, the 17 year-old 6ft 3in Danish striker who arrived at Highbury in the summer and impressed at Doncaster in the Carling Cup tie.
The Danish press say he is the best to come out of their country since the Laudrup brothers.
Bendtner says: “I cannot easily compare the way I play to any player that I know of. I’m quite big and strong but I like running at defenders, as well as winning balls in the air, but I think my main asset is my vision.”