Arsenal Transfer Rumours - Podolski, Hazard and Shea

Arsenal are linked to some interesting players toady, even though the mid-season transfer window is a good two months away.

German international and FC Koln star Lukas Podolski has reportedly been an Arsenal target for over two years. Earlier this week, the 26-year-old hinted at leaving the club next summer, prompting a flurry of reports stating Arsenal were preparing a £20 million bid for the German for the January transfer window.

However, Koln general manager Volker Finke was quick to quash the rumors and revealed that Koln would try and keep the player.

I am trying to stay indifferent to rumours like this, he told Bild. We all know what we are facing.

Sometime around Christmas we will be going to meet to try and thrash out the contract extension of Lukas Podolski. I have already spoken to his agent, Kon Schramm. We have no clear date just now.

Maybe we will meet two weeks before Christmas or two weeks after Christmas. We should fix this without any pressure.

Elsewhere, new-Gunner Gervinho has prompted his former Lille teammate Eden Hazard to join him in the Premier League. The two formed a formidable partnership during their time together at Lille and Gervinho's comments have increased talk of an Arsenal move for the Belgian.

Hazard is a young player with enormous quality, Gervinho told French radio RMC Sports. If he has decided to leave, it is normal for clubs to be interested, as he has the level to triumph in England.

Eden has learnt a lot at Lille, and I believe he could succeed abroad. Where he goes is up to the clubs. But it will be a big operation.

The report comes after Hazard admitted, earlier this week, that he would leave Lille at the end of the season.

Apart from Arsenal, a number of top sides from around Europe have been linked to the 20-year-old Belgian, including Chelsea, PSG, Inter and AC Milan.

Finally, the Gunners are also linked to highly-rated American prospect Brek Shea, who is set to train with Arsenal for a month during the MLS off-season. It gives Arsene Wenger the opportunity to keep a close eye on the FC Dallas winger who is already an American international.

The arrangement has been backed by US international coach Juergen Klinsmann.

Brek matured as a player and as a leader on the field this past season. It was a career year for him, Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman said.

He consolidated himself as one of the top players in MLS and solidified his role with the U.S. National Team. Affording Brek the opportunity to continue to work on improving his game and measure himself among the best players in the world is something we are all excited about.

It's a winning situation for Brek, FC Dallas and the U.S. team, as the extra training time will help push his game to the next level.