Arsenal Eyes £44m Real Madrid Star for January Transfer

The latest Arsenal transfer news and rumours with updates on Ethan Nwaneri, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Real Madrid defender Víctor Valdepenas Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta looks set to complete two very different January transfers over the coming days. The Gunners have thus far endured a quiet winter trading period with any potential incomings likely to be offset by a departure. With injury problems easing, Mikel Arteta is edging closer to having a fully fit squad which is expected to result in fringe players getting reduced minutes. Ethan Nwaneri is one of those, with approaches from West Ham United and Bournemouth to take him on loan turned down, but the perfect opportunity has seemingly arisen. Oleksandr Zinchenko is one Arsenal star who is currently on loan away from the club on a temporary basis though that looks set to change after a candid omission from Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche and another club showing a transfer interest. READ MORE : Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd reject proposal, Arsenal make Nwaneri U-turn, Liverpool suffer £87m blowREAD MORE : Arsenal make sudden Ethan Nwaneri transfer U-turn after Mikel Arteta steps in As for incomings, it certainly seems as though full focus is on the summer transfer window with Berta in the process of already drawing up plans. The Gunners are well-stocked in most positions but that could change depending on exits. Signing young stars for the future has become more common in north London as evidenced by the agreement for Ecuadorian twins Edwin and Holger Quintero. Another exciting teenager is now firmly on Arsenal's radar, but is a far more established name as he is contracted to Real Madrid. FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!** Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page** With all of that being said, Mirror Football has taken a closer look at the latest Arsenal transfer news and rumours as two weeks of the January window remain. £44m Real Madrid star on Arsenal 'radar' With long-term defensive targets Marc Guehi and Jeremy Jacquet heading elsewhere, Arsenal are not currently pursuing anything in this window. That is what The Athletic have claimed with the latter likely to join Chelsea and Manchester City having announced Guehi's arrival from Crystal Palace. However, Real Madrid’s Victor Valdepenas has been named in their report as someone that could feature on their summer radar. The 19-year-old made his debut for Real last month and is highly rated by the Spanish giants which could make signing him very difficult. It has been claimed a €50million (£44m) release clause is in in the fresh terms he signed recently with that contract expiring in 2029. Nwaneri to arrive in Marseille today Marseille have agreed to sign Ethan Nwaneri on loan from Arsenal for the remainder of the season. It has emerged that the French club was selected as the best possible move for the Gunners' attacking midfielder with Roberto De Zerbi's style a big factor. The temporary switch has moved quickly with Foot Mercato claiming that Nwaneri is expected to be in Marseille to finalise his move today. He will join up with Mason Greenwood and Matt O'Riley, who was born in England and is on loan from Brighton. Zinchenko to Ajax Dutch giants Ajax are set to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko on a permanent deal once his loan at Nottingham Forest concluding. A loan move was the initial plan but that has since changed to Ajax paying a small fee.