Arsenal have jumped on board the Paul Pogba bandwagon and will challenge both Chelsea and Manchester City in the race to sign the Juventus midfielder. The 21-year-old Frenchman, formerly of Manchester United, has blossomed into one of the most exciting talents in European football since arriving in Turin two years ago.
According to the Daily Express Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants to lure Pogba back to England, as do City who, says the paper, view the playmaker "as the long-term replacement for Yaya Toure". Though Chelsea have in the past been linked to Pogba, it appears Arsenal and the Sky Blues will go to head, though it's likely to take a bid in the region of £40m to persuade Juventus to part with the player.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail says that Arsenal's chances of landing Lucas Silva in January "could be resurrected" after Real Madrid gaffer Carlo Ancelotti admitted the club was in two minds about whether to accept Cruzeiro's asking price of £12m.
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The 21-year-old South American sizzler is said to be keen on a move to the Spanish capital but the Mail claim his club want a quick sale. Consequently with Real Madrid dithering, Arsenal could get their man next month if they cough up the cash without further ado.
The reason for Real's hesitation is that Ancelotti will only need the playmaker if Luka Modric and James Rodriguez fail to show signs of recovery from long-term injuries. According to the Mail Silva is "part-owned by a sports investment fund" who stand to make an alleged £4m from any £12m sale.
If Metro is to be believed Arsenal and Liverpool could miss the boat on a deal for Paulo Dybala next month after Palermo signalled their desire to extend his contract at the club. The 21-year-old Argentine striker has been in impressive nick this season, the reason for the English interest, but Metro claims Palermo won't let him go "without a fight and are said to be working on an improved deal".
Having scored seven goals in 14 games for the Sicilian outfit, Dybala is expected to pen a new deal in the new year that will tie him to the club until 2018.
Finally, the Evening Standard reports that Chelsea frontman Andre Schurrle has rubbished the idea he could be poised to do a bunk from the Bridge next month.
The 24-year-old German hitman has struggled for regular game time this season with the Premier League leaders, but he's made the most of his limited opportunities, as he showed on Wednesday night, scoring one of Chelsea's three goals in their win over Sporting Lisbon in what was his first start for five weeks.
Asked if he was intending to seek out a new challenge in January, Schurrle replied: "I can just laugh all the talk of leaving off. I am not going to change the club in the transfer window. I am happy where I am, I am happy in London. I love the city, I love the fans…This where I belong and where I want to help."
