As we approach January, our gossip column is starting to return, with some momentum.
Today’s rumours have linked us with Chelsea’s Petr Cech, and a wild £60million swoop for two Porto players. In this feature we look to breakdown the most talked about Arsenal rumours and take a look at their likelihood and reliability. Our judgement might occasionally take the fun out of the link..
Arsenal are set to make a £7million move for Petr Cech (The Sun) – Chelsea have agreed to sell Cech to Arsenal (Express)
The first thing to note about the whole Cech to Arsenal fiasco is that no reliable paper has reported it. The Gunners aren’t in desperate need of a keeper but Cech is on the market and Arsene Wenger is a big fan. These factors point to the deal having a little bit of substance. Can Wenger keep David Ospina and Woijech Szczesny happy if Cech arrived? There’s no doubt in my mind that Cech is the best keeper out of the trio, Szczesny is still young and Ospina is having fitness problems. I don’t think it’s inconceivable for Arsenal to sign Cech, but I do think it’s highly unlikely. At 32 he won’t be around for more than 3 years at the top level, so if Szczesny were to be patient and learn from the Czech, Arsenal could have two quality keepers on their hands. Click here to see how Twitter reacted to the Cech to Arsenal rumours.
Arsenal could sign Anderlecht wonder-kid Dennis Praet for free on a pre-contract in January (Mirror)
Praet looked a quality player when Anderlecht outplayed us in Brussels. He has plenty of people talking about him but his agent has already singled out Arsenal as the perfect club. The Gunners will be keen to sign Praet ahead of Europe’s elite clubs. Arsene Wenger will have the pull factor and I’m sure if we want him, we will get him. There’s plenty of substance in this one, we’ve wanted him for a while. Considering he will cost nothing, this is a punt worth taking for Wenger. He’s another small attacking midfielder, but with Rosicky on his way out – he could be the perfect replacement.
More gossip: Arsenal are chasing Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Marcelo Brozovic (Mirror)