Arsene Wenger could be in for a busy last couple of weeks of the transfer window, with Arsenal, having already completed four incoming transfers this summer, being heavily linked to players left, right and centre.
While Wenger may have already brought in David Ospina, Calum Chambers, Mathieu Debuchy and Alexis Sanchez – three of them starting in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday in the English Premier League – the manager is expected to make a couple more additions before the transfer window closes for 2014, and there could be quite a few new faces coming in with Kostas Manolas, Adrien Rabiot, Eduardo Vargas all reportedly closing in on moves to the Emirates.
Wenger could also be keeping another marquee signing ready for the final few days of the transfer window, with Sami Khedira – yes, him again – reportedly ready to make a switch to the Premier League.
Khedira to Arsenal has been one of the most talked about transfers this summer, with the Germany international reportedly looking to move on from Real Madrid. And those reports of a possible switch to the Emirates only heightened, with the player apparently holding unsuccessful talks with manager Carlo Ancelotti.
According to the Daily Mirror, Khedira spoke with Ancelotti and was left convinced that his future lies outside the Bernabeu, with his agent reportedly immediately exploring the possibility of a deal with Bayern Munich.
Khedira's representative is also set to fly to London to see if he can thrash out a deal with either Arsenal or Chelsea, with Real Madrid reportedly asking for £12 million for the player. Jose Mourinho is reportedly interested in bringing in the midfielder he enjoyed a good relationship with Real Madrid.
Chelsea, of course, will have no problems matching Khedira's wage demands, and it remains to be seen just how keen Wenger is on bringing in the World Cup-winning midfielder, with the manager previously insisting he was never interested in the German.
Meanwhile, Wenger could be close to strengthening a position that Arsenal need to fill, with Manolas reportedly having a medical at the Emirates, according to Goal.com. Following Thomas Vermaelen's exit, Arsenal are short in the central defensive department, despite the emergence of Calum Chambers in that position, and Wenger could now be close to signing Greece international Manolas in a deal worth around £8 million.
Joining Manolas at the Emirates could be Rabiot, with Paris-Saint Germain reportedly accepting a bid of around £5.5 million for the midfielder. Talks over a new deal for Rabiot broke down, and PSG are resigned to losing the talented teenager, with Arsenal reportedly given permission to hold talks with the player, according to RMC.
Rabiot is not your conventional defensive midfielder, but can play in that position and is seen as one of the bright young hopes of French football – so a signing right down Wenger's alley.
Finally, Wenger is apparently close to strengthening his forward line with a move for Alexis Sanchez's Chile international teammate Eduardo Vargas. Vargas has been deemed surplus to requirements at Napoli and has been linked with a move away, with Valencia showing a keen interest.
However, according to Chilean newspaper La Tercera, Arsenal have apparently agreed a season-long loan deal for the forward.
It remains to be seen if this deal will indeed be done, with Wenger admitting he has no interest in strengthening his forwardline. That should, of course, not stop Wenger from actually making a move for a potent striker, but with Arsenal reportedly keen on signing Edinson Cavani, it does look unlikely that the manager will bring in Vargas, who is not exactly a potent goalscorer.
And those feelings only strengthened with Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio tweeting about interest in Vargas, with Arsenal conspicuous by their absence. "Offer by Sunderland for Vargas. Tomorrow even QPR will ask him on loan," Di Marzio wrote.
Offer by @SunderlandAFC for @eduvargas_17: tomorrow even @QPRFC will ask him on loan to @sscnapoli
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) August 17, 2014