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Arsenal are working on a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain defender Layvin Kurzawa .
It’s understood talks between the Gunners and the Ligue 1 giants have progressed past the initial stages.
Arsenal are short on options in defence due to a number of injuries and, if Mikel Arteta is to strengthen his squad during the current transfer window, adding numbers in that area was always going to be a priority.
Kurzawa, 27, is available on a free transfer in the summer when his contract expires but it is believed Arsenal are keen to do a deal to bring him to the Emirates Stadium this month.
Asked about his defensive headaches on Wednesday, Arteta replied: “We are playing with full-backs that are not full-backs.
Show all 41 1 /41January transfer targets January transfer targets January Transfer Targets Forty exciting players from across Europe who could potentially move this month.
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January transfer targets Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) £80m winger has consistently pushed for a move away from Selhurst Park, with Chelsea the most likely destination.
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January transfer targets Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) German side are keen to hold onto the England international until the summer, however, a host of European clubs are looking to force Dortmund's hand.
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January transfer targets Leroy Sane (Manchester City) Bayern Munich continue to be linked with the injured winger, with a Bundesliga move looking inevitable either this month or in the summer.
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January transfer targets Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig) Arsenal were linked with the centre-back over the summer, but his £60m asking price may prove a stumbling block.
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January transfer targets Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) Striker has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, although a number of European clubs are interested. German internaitonal may stay until the summer with Leipzig on such good form.
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January transfer targets Ben Chilwell (Leicester) Leicester have pledged to hold onto the full-back until the summer, when Chelsea and Man City are set to battle for his signature.
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January transfer targets Paul Pogba (Manchester United) Speculation has begun to boil yet again over Pogba's future, especially after the incendiary comments of his agent, Mino Raiola. He is expected to remain at least until the summer, though.
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January transfer targets Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) Came close to a move to China in the summer before the plug was pulled at the 11th hour. The same conundrum remains as to whether any club is willing to match his exorbitant wages.
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January transfer targets Christian Eriksen (Tottenham) Has made clear his intention to leave Spurs when his contract expires in the summer and favours a move overseas, with Inter Milan reportedly entering talks with the Danish midfielder.
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January transfer targets Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona) French World Cup-winner has been consistently linked with a move away from the Camp Nou, with Arsenal previously holding an interest. The 26-year-old would command a large fee, but was in attendance to watch Arsenal vs Manchester United on New Year's Day.
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January transfer targets Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) The curtain is almost certain to draw on the Frenchman's Chelsea career as he looks to secure his place at Euro 2020, having been almost completely shut out by Frank Lampard.
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January transfer targets Nathan Ake (Bournemouth) Chelsea have long considered activating Dutch defender's £40m buy-back clause. Other clubs are also taking an interest as the Cherries toil.
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January transfer targets Edinson Cavani (PSG) Veteran Uruguay striker is set to leave the Parc des Princes after being usurped by Mauro Icardi. Atletico Madrid and a number of MLS sides are reportedly taking an interest.
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January transfer targets Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid) Frenchman has failed to deliver in his time at Atletico and Lyon are looking to make an approach to bring the midfielder back to Ligue 1.
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January transfer targets Jarrod Bowen (Hull) It's inevitable that Hull will eventually cash in on the exciting winger who has already scored 16 goals this season. Aston Villa are currently favourites to secure his signature.
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January transfer targets Emerson (Chelsea) Left-back has fallen out of favour under Frank Lampard, who is in search of a replacement, and Inter Milan and Juventus have taken an interest in the Italy international.
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January transfer targets Rhian Brewster (Liverpool - loan) Prodigious English striker has struggled for game time this season with Swansea, currently manager by former England U17 coach Steve Cooper, leading the race for his signature.
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January transfer targets Curtis Jones (Liverpool - loan) Another exciting academy graduate, Jones made his debut this season but could join a Championship side in January to get increased game time after the arrival of Takumi Minamino.
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January transfer targets Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) Spaniard has been sidelined by Frank Lampard and is pushing for a January move, with Serie A the likeliest option.
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January transfer targets Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) Serbian's contract expires in the summer with Manchester United willing to cash in. However, any move could hinge on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side bringing in reinforcements after Scott McTominay's injury.
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January transfer targets Moussa Dembele (Lyon) Another striking option scouted by Chelsea, the former Celtic player could arrive as a direct replacement for Olivier Giroud.
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January transfer targets Gedson Fernandes (Benfica) Portuguese midfielder has emerged as a target for Manchester United with his agent reportedly sighted in London for talks.
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January transfer targets Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) Controversial Rangers striker has been linked with a move to Newcastle.
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January transfer targets Dries Mertens (Napoli) Belgian winger is available on a cut-price deal in January, with his contract at Napoli expiring in the summer. Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Arsenal and Everton have all been linked.
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January transfer targets Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus) With Juventus completing a £38m deal for Dejan Kulusevski, Bernardeschi could be the attacking option that makes way at the Italian champions.
January transfer targets Emre Can (Juventus) German international fumed after being left out Juventus' Champions League squad and is set to depart after falling down the pecking order.
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January transfer targets Andreas Iniesta (Vissel Kobe) Barcelona legend has been linked with an MLS move as well as with Estudiantes in Argentina.
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January transfer targets James Rodriguez (Real Madrid) Has seen his star fade dramatically yet remains one of the most skilful attacking midfielders in Europe. Everton have been linked, although it's unlikely the Colombian would take such a significant step down at this stage.
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January transfer targets Arturo Vidal (Barcelona) Chilean is reportedly suing Barcelona over unpaid bonuses and is set to leave the club in January with Inter Milan currently leading the race for his signature.
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January transfer targets Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) Inter Milan's precocious forward has been linked with Barcelona, Real Madrid as well as a number of Premier League clubs. The Serie A side's president is ready to cash in.
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January transfer targets Danny Loader (Reading) England U17 World Cup-winner saw his deadline day move to Wolves fall through at the last minute. His contract expires in the summer and Reading may look to cash in.
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January transfer targets Adrien Rabiot (Juventus - loan) French midfielder has seen his game time extremely limited under Maurizio Sarri and has been linked with a loan move.
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January transfer targets Che Adams (Southampton - loan) Out-of-sorts striker has failed to deliver since joining Southampton in the summer and could be set for a loan move back to the Championship.
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January transfer targets Dani Olmo (Dinamo Zagreb) A number of clubs in Spain and England have been linked with the exciting 21-year-old winger.
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January transfer targets Nathan Ferguson (West Brom) Teenage defender is one of the most promising talents in the Championship and has been scouted by a host of Premier League clubs. The latest off the WBA production line.
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January transfer targets Eberechi Eze (QPR) A brilliant playmaker in the Championship, Eze has already scored 10 goals from midfield this season and attracted interest from Tottenham and Sheffield United.
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January transfer targets Isco (Real Madrid) Spanish midfielder continues to be linked with a move away from the Bernabeu, with Chelsea among a number of clubs to consider the 27-year-old.
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January transfer targets Marcos Rojo (Manchester United) Everton had a bid rejected for the centre-back in the summer, however, United are now ready to let the Argentine go after the emergence of Axel Tuanzebe as back-up.
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January transfer targets Patrick Cutrone (Wolves) Wolves are reportedly considering cutting their losses with the 21-year-old striker who's struggled since his move from AC Milan.
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January transfer targets James Maddison (Leicester) The attacking midfielder continues to draw interest from Manchester United, who are desperately searching for a creative force this window.
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“They are wingers or central midfielders and could we afford to lose full-backs? No, but we don’t have any full-backs.”
With Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac both injured, Arteta is likely to have to field young winger Bukayo Saka at left-back against Sheffield United on Saturday.
Tierney had been a long-standing target for Arsenal and was finally recruited in the summer but his first months in north London have been thwarted by fitness issues.
Kurzawa would come in as a challenger to his position, with the France international starting just six league games for PSG so far this season.
Arsenal are interested in signing Layvin Kurzawa (Getty) Arsenal’s original plans had been for a quiet January window but the need for an additional body at the back appears to have changed their outlook.
It remains to be seen if a fee can be agreed between the two sides but it is reported that Arsenal’s head of football Raul Sanllehi is in charge of the talks.
Kurzawa has won three Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France crowns and a trio of Coupe de la Ligue trophies at PSG, having joined from rivals Monaco in 2015.
PA
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