Arsenal after Scrabble-friendly Polish hard man Krychowia

Midfielder could add steel for Gunners as Wellington Silva finally gets a work permit after four years

Grzegorz Krychowiak of Sevilla
(Image credit: Facebook)

With Arsenal's defence as unreliable as Tesco's finances, the Daily Star claims that Arsene Wenger thinks he has found the solution. The Scrabble-friendly Grzegorz Krychowia is currently plying his trade for Sevilla in La Liga, but the Nutty Professor has reportedly identified the 24-year-old defensive midfielder as the man to provide some additional ballast to his squad.

Though Krychowia only joined Sevilla in the summer the Star says he the Polish hard man could "be set for a switch" to the Emirates as early as the New Year. Krychowia is good mates with international teammate and Arsenal gloveman Wojciech Szczesny, and apparently a deal is in the pipeline. The Star quotes a source saying: "There seems a genuine interest from Arsenal."

And there's more good news for the Gunners, this time concerning the future of Wellington Silva. Seeing as he's still 21, it seems only fair to describe the Brazilian as a 'starlet', but in recent seasons he's been out on loan with a string of clubs - Levante, Alcoyano, Ponferradina, Murcia and Almeria – while Arsenal tried to sort out his work permit. Initially, reports the Daily Telegraph, Silva signed for Arsenal in a £3.5m deal from Fluminense in 2010 but his Arsenal career was put on hold while the paperwork was completed. It's taken a while but the Telegraph says that "the former Brazil Under-17 international is now eligible" to play for Arsenal as of next season.

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Not so good, though, are the reports emanating from Ghana concerning Richmond Boakye-Yiadom. According to TV Africa Juventus have rejected an approach from Arsenal for the Ghana striker. It seems that the Gunners had inquired about the availability of the 21-year-old, at least that is what a leading Italian agent told Ghanaian media. "I am very reliably informed by top people in both clubs that Arsenal asked Juventus last week about the availability of Boakye-Yiadom for January," the agent explained. And Juventus's reaction? "Not for sale."

In other news the Daily Express says that Liverpool are lining up "a sensational move" for Malaga's Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. The Central American was one of the stars of last summer's World Cup and was the subject of interest from both Liverpool and Arsenal following his release from French outfit Ajaccio. Neither managed to land the 29-year-old who signed instead for Malaga in a three year deal. But things don't appear to be working out in Spain and the Express claims that as a result Liverpool gaffer Brendan Rodgers is "weighing up" a January swoop now that he's given up on bringing Victor Valdes to Anfield. Valdes, a free agent since leaving Barcelona last season, is training with Manchester United and looks likely to agree terms with the Red Devils.

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Bill Mann is a football correspondent for The Week.co.uk, scouring the world's football press daily for the popular Transfer Talk column.