Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Gunners watching AFCON defender, Raya loan to be made permanent, Solanke boost, Everton set Onana price

Arsenal join race for Championship star

Arsenal and Manchester City have joined Liverpool in looking at Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

Freelance transfer reporter Graeme Bailey claims the Gunners are big admirers of the 23-year-old.

He only just recently signed a new deal with the Black Cats, but Sunderland's model consists of them selling young players for a big profit.

Liverpool believe he can be Caoimhin Kelleher's replacement as number two.

And Arsenal believe he can be David Raya's backup, with Aaron Ramsdale expected to depart in the summer.

Ona-no

Sean Dyche isn't keen on the idea of Amadou Onana joining Arsenal.

The Belgian midfielder has been linked to the Gunners previously, and again in the January transfer window.

Asked about the latest rumours, the Toffees boss said: "He’s been heavily linked before I was here and after. It’s just another story.

"He’s an Everton player, so any decision that we make on players, it will be us that decide."

Tottenham backed to finish above Arsenal

Gary Neville thinks that Tottenham could finish above Arsenal this season despite initially tipping the Gunners to win the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta's men are enduring a little slump but are still well in the title race.

However, Spurs are now level on points with their north London rivals and are going to welcome James Maddison and Heung-min Son back in the coming weeks.

And Neville is a big fan of Spurs.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "If they keep their players fit, they are a certainty to finish in the top four and I think they can get to second and third.

"With those players back, and if they can get through these next few weeks, I genuinely think they can be better than Arsenal and Liverpool this season."

Toney no go

Thomas Frank has one again insisted that he doesn't want to sell Ivan Toney in this transfer window.

The England striker is finally set to return from his ban due to illegal betting and has long been linked with a move to Arsenal.

However, it's unlikely the Gunners can afford him this month.

And with the Bees struggling, Frank is in no mood to sell him.

Speaking ahead of Brentord's replay with Wolves, he said: "It’ll be great to get him involved.

"I think it’s very clear, I don’t want to let him go. I want to keep him as long as possible and I only have that in mind.

"My only focus is getting him ready for Nottingham Forest."

Smith Row on Villa's radar

talkSPORT's Alex Crook has told GIVEMESPORT that Aston Villa are interested in signing Emile Smith Rowe.

The England international has struggled for first-team minutes this season, with Mikel Arteta preferring other options.

Smith Rowe is versatile and has been monitored by many clubs, and the Gunners could see Villa's interest as a chance to make a huge amount of profit.

Financial Fair Play constraints are keeping Arsenal's spending limited this month, meaning potential sales in the summer are already being looked at.

Speaking about Arsenal's financial situation, Crook said: "Arsenal might have to move a couple of players out to get players in.

"There’s interest in Mohamed Elneny from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and they’d cash in on Thomas Partey if they could, given his injury record and the fact he’s on good wages.

"I'm keen to see what they do with Smith Rowe because I think Aston Villa’s interest is still there.

"We know that Arsenal like Douglas Luiz, but Villa aren’t going to let him go at this moment in time because they’re competing for the top four themselves."

Lokonga looking good

Amid Arsenal's Financial Fair Play concerns, they are likely to be looking at who can be sold for good money, while not reducing the quality of Mikel Arteta's squad.

And one man who falls into that category is Albert Sambi Lokonga.

The Belgian midfielder is currently on loan at Luton Town and is starting to impress.

An injury suffered earlier in the season stopped Lokonga's progress, but he has started the Hatters' last four Premier League games and is proving to be good value on and off the ball.

Unfortunately, it's hard to see how he gets into that Arsenal midfield, so a summer sale might raise some much-needed funds and ensure the Gunners can keep their best players.

Set the tone

Ivan Toney got Arsenal fans excited after sending a public message to Gunners record signing Declan Rice.

The Brentford star, who has been linked with a move to the Emirates this January, got tongues wagging with a teasing post on Instagram.

Taking to social media on Sunday night, Toney shared a picture of the pair on England duty together.

He wrote: "Happy birthday my guy [hands up and red heart emoji]."

Alexander the Great

Arsenal target Alexander Isak has been compared to Gunners legend Thierry Henry by Newcastle icon Alan Shearer.

Shearer, writing about Sweden international Isak for the Athletic, said: "As a kid… he was inevitably compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, another Swedish legend, but the comparison they make within Newcastle's coaching staff is to Thierry Henry.

"You can see it in that blistering pace, the languid grace, that gorgeous, fluid movement."

Lu beauty

Roy Keane believes that Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz would be a good fit for Arsenal, describing him as 'a quality player'.

Luiz was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal last year and according to Man United legend Roy Keane, such interest is no surprise given the level of performance that he's putting in.

“He turns up every week this player,” said Keane. “Never seems to be injured. Quality player. I like him.

“I think he was linked with Arsenal last year. There are no surprises there, with some of the Villa players, you think they can certainly go on to play for a Man United, Arsenal or even Man City, you look at Watkins.

“But I like Luiz. He is consistent. Turns up week in and week out. You know what you are going to get from him. I like a lot about him. Probably lacks that real pace maybe.

“In terms of his decision-making and looking after the ball. Very, very good.”

Santia-go to London

Arsenal have joined a host of London clubs eyeing a summer swoop for Santiago Gimenez, according to reports.

Football Insider claim that the Gunners are rivalling capital rivals Tottenham and Fulham for the Feyenoord star.

The report adds that West Ham are still leading the race for the Mexico international - who is said to cost between £30million-40m to prize him away from the Dutch giants this month.

Spor Blimey

Arsenal have reportedly entered the race to sign Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande.

Portuguese outlet Record claim that the Gunners are closely monitoring Diomande alongside Chelsea.

The 20-year-old, who has an €80m release clause, is currently in action at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.

No Mayor of London city

Getafe striker Borja Mayoral has shut down a reported switch to Arsenal after insisting that he is happy in Spain.

Mayoral said on his potential departure to Spanish outlet AS: "It’s news that has surprised me too.

"I haven’t spoken to the club or my agent. I’m very focused on Getafe on a day-to-day basis."

Soak in the Rays

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has told Mikel Arteta's men to enjoy the winter break and come back recharged.

The talkSPORT pundit told BettingSites.co.uk: "This little break is all about having meetings and getting together with each other and saying: ‘Look, come on, there’s still a long way to go in this season.

"Let’s not throw it away now. We’ve had a decent start.

"We know we’ve had a couple of bad results, West Ham, Fulham and Liverpool, but there’s still a long way to go and let’s regroup, try and get that next win and go again'."

Get away

Arsenal have been told by Getafe they have no intention of selling Borja Mayoral, according to AS.

The striker had been reported to be on Mikel Arteta's wish list as he looks to bolster his attacking strength.

And Mayoral had been tipped as a potential arrival this month.

However, Getafe have issued a hands-off warning to the Gunners for the 26-year-old, who has scored 12 in 19 LaLiga matches this season.

Zirk to do

Bologna sporting director Marco Di Vaio revealed that Joshua Zirkzee has a release clause - but only Bayern Munich can trigger it.

The Dutchman has been linked with a move to Arsenal this month after a stunning season in Serie A.

But a move for the 22-year-old is complicated due to the fact that Bayern have the option to sign him for £34.4million (€40m).

The German giants sold Zirkzee to Bologna in 2022.

"[The release clause is] only valid for Bayern Munich,” Di Vaio said. “We see him every day, we know what he wants and his ideas. He is always involved.

“Now it’s time to develop what we are doing. We can have a future with Thiago Motta. The higher we stay in the table, the more chances we have."

High steaks

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta took a break from football and transfers with a trip to Salt Bae's restaurant in Dubai.

The Gunners are not in action until January 20 as the Premier League stages a mid-season player break.

One round of fixtures is split across two weeks to help clubs manage their workload after a busy Christmas period.

Arsenal have taken the opportunity to undergo a warm-weather training camp in the Middle East.

While there, Arteta visited celebrity chef 'Salt Bae' and got the VIP treatment...

Marquinhos return

Arsenal have confirmed that Marquinhos has returned early from his season-long loan at Nantes.

The 20-year-old made just seven Ligue 1 appearances, providing one assist.

In a statement on Arsenal's website, they confirmed that the winger would be playing for Brazil at the upcoming CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament.

Two South American teams qualify for the Olympics and Marquinhos will be looking to ensure Brazil are one such team.

It's expected that he will join another club on loan, although his participation in that tournament could complicate matters.

Advantage Arsenal?

Arsenal received a possible boost in their pursuit of Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke on Friday.

The Gunners have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old, who has 12 goals in 19 Premier League games this season.

Newcastle were also credited with an interest in Solanke but manager Eddie Howe poured cold water on those reports at his press conference.

The Newcastle boss said: “It’s a frustrating story.

"I love Solanke, I signed him for Bournemouth and rate him very highly.

"But we have not made an inquiry for him and we don’t have the ability to sign a player of that level.”

Arsenal open to January deals

It's been a relatively quiet start to the transfer window for Arsenal, with Financial Fair Play at the forefront of their thoughts.

Therefore, the Telegraph report the Gunners are 'open' to January business but might have to be creative.

But club insiders believes that the squad is well-balanced, and once everyone is fit, they believe it's a strong enough team to compete on multiple fronts.

Of course, injuries to any key players or in certain positions could change things.

Jordan rubbishes Toney claims

Simon Jordan has brutally shutdown any talk of Arsenal signing Ivan Toney this window due to the finances involved.

It's no secret that the Gunners would like to sign the Brentford striker.

However, due to the Bees' perilous position and Toney's insistence on repaying the club, the deal is looking increasingly unlikely.

And the former Crystal Palace owner explained on talkSPORT why from a financial point of view it won't happen.

He said: "I don' think they are going to squeeze it into this year's Financial Fair Play."

Cherry picking

Arsenal have been told to hijack Newcastle's proposed move for Dominic Solanke considering the Magpies' struggles with FFP.

Speaking on the It's All Kicking Off podcast, Chris Sutton said: "Whether Solanke is an upgrade or not, he's a player who I rate highly especially this season, the more I've seen of him.

"I think he's finding himself. He knows his game now. You could have questioned his goalscoring record in the past, but at this moment in time, I think that Newcastle are right to go for him.

"I know Arsenal have got this FFP issue and what have you, whether they can spend big money but I'm surprised Arsenal haven't made some sort of move for him. Maybe they have."

Chamber of secrets

Former Arsenal defender Calum Chambers has been told he can leave Aston Villa this month by ex-Gunners boss Unai Emery.

Chambers, who arrived from Arsenal in a free transfer last January, is yet to play a single minute of Premier League action this season and is set to leave just one year into a three-and-a-half-year deal.

“There are some players here who can leave," Emery said in his press conference this afternoon.

"For example, there are two players — Bertrand Traore and Calum Chambers — who can leave.

“They are two players that are knowing their situation through different circumstances. Maybe there are other players that can leave and that’s not clear.

"And the possibility to sign players in substitute them, we are trying to analyse different characteristics of players.”

Gunner be tempted?

Arsenal have been told to make a move for PSV Eindhoven's Moroccan star Ismael Saibari.

Morocco legend Ali Boussaboun, who spent most of his career in the Dutch Eredivisie, believes Saibari has the profile of a Gunners star.

“Ismael Saibari is great,” Boussaboun told Dutch outlet NU.

“He has beautiful technique, is so strong, and really a team player. And he is so humble that you almost want to hug him.”

“If Saibari does well there (at AFCON), his market value will increase by 10 or 20 million euros,” the 44-year-old adds. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Arsenal pick him up after the season.

“If PSV sells him for less than 60 million euros, they will have failed.”

Bee sting

Sam Allardyce has shared something about Arsenal target Ivan Toney that has really shocked him.

Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast, he said: “Ivan Toney will take the best part of six, eight or 10 games to get up to speed.

“Match practice is everything, you can do as much training as you want but when it comes down to match practice.

“What surprised me the other day is my mate said he was 6 ft 4 or 6 ft 5 but according to the Premier League he’s no bigger than 6 ft 2.”

Hav some of that

talkSPORT’s football correspondent Mark Goldbridge believes the signing of Kai Havertz has affected Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard's form.

“It’s been a bit of a surprise with Arsenal. They were top at Christmas and now they’re fourth. It’s a bit of a reality bite.

“I watched both games against West Ham and Fulham and both games they deserved to lose. For the first time in a long time Arteta actually acknowledged that without blaming decisions that didn’t go their way.

“I’ve never been comfortable with the [Kai] Havertz signing, I don’t think the balance of the midfield is correct I think it’s had an impact on [Martin] Odegaard and I think Arsenal would be a better team if they had a box-to-box number eight next to Declan Rice giving Odegaard the freedom to be the number ten.

“I also think they lack a striker, [Gabriel] Jesus runs hot and cold and [Eddie] Nketiah wouldn’t start for a team like Everton or Crystal Palace, so he’s not a good enough striker to win the league, and I think their fullbacks need improvement.

“Arsenal are technically still very much a work in progress compared to a Man City who are the complete deal.”