Arsenal Transfer News: Zaha, Yanga-Mbiwa, Cabella And Shaw Discussed In Latest Speculation

Arsenal will make an offer for Crystal Palace’s highly-rated winger Wilfried Zaha in the January transfer window, according to the Daily Telegraph. The 20-year-old has set the Championship alight this season and has been linked to several of the Premier League’s big clubs, with Arsenal believed to have scouted him on several occasions.

Palace manager Ian Holloway has already voiced his disapproval at the way in which Arsene Wenger has publicly discussed Zaha and that is only like to fuel Palace’s reluctance to sanction a sale in midseason. Currently sitting in one of the Championship’s automatic promotion places, Palace are only likely to allow their prize asset to leave in January if they receive an inflated bid.

The Telegraph reports that Arsenal would need to offer around £18 million. With Wenger traditionally reluctant to pay what he considers over the odds for a player, it is being suggested that a move next summer remains the likeliest outcome.

Zaha , who earned a first England cap during a friendly in Sweden last month, is seen as a potential replacement for Theo Walcott, whose contract is set to expire next summer.

Arsenal are also said to be eyeing up Montpellier duo Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Remy Cabella. Central defender Yanga-Mbiwa was heavily linked to both the Gunners and Milan in the summer after captaining Montpellier to their first Ligue 1 title last season. But after the French outfit crashed out of the Champions League, from a group which included Arsenal, Wenger is set to revive his interest, according to Metro.

The France international, 23, only recently signed a contract extension beyond next summer, meaning his tied to Montpellier until 2013.

Despite that, Metro claims that Yanga-Mbiwa could be available for a cut-price fee.

His teammate Cabella, 22, is a target for both Arsenal and Manchester United, according to the Sun.

The midfielder has scored four goals and contributed five assists in 21 appearances so far this season. Cabella would also add versatility to the Arsenal squad, with the France Under-21 international having played centrally and on both flanks during this campaign.

Arsenal have also been repeatedly linked with young Southampton left-back Luke Shaw in recent times. The Daily Mirror reports that the 17-year-old is a January transfer target for both the Gunners and Chelsea.

However, with Shaw already holding down a place in the newly-promoted Saints’ first team, manager Nigel Adkins has dismissed talk of an exit.

“Luke is very happy where he is,” he said, according to the Mirror. “He is in the first team, he has got great people around him and his future is very bright.

“If Southampton are in the Premier League, there is no better place for any of our young players. They have more chance of first-team football here than elsewhere.”