Chelsea to fork out £26.1m for Cuadrado, Arsenal eye £17m Gaya

Gunners interested in defender Jose Luis Gaya but midfielder Koke set to stick with Atletico Madrid

Juan Cuadrado
(Image credit: Enrico Locci/Getty)

With deadline day just four days away the Premier League big guns continue to jockey for position, but targets appear to be thin on the ground. That, however, has not deterred the rumour mill:

• Arsenal have officially unveiled Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal as their newest defensive signing, but the Gunners have a fight on their hands if they want to land Valencia left-back Jose Luis Gaya. Talksport reports that Real Madrid will offer "stiff competition" for the 19-year-old Spain under-21 international. Arsene Wenger apparently remains unconvinced by either Kieran Gibbs or Nacho Monreal and has identified Gaya as a more reliable defender. Trouble is, says Talksport, Arsenal find the £17m price tag a little steep while Real "are ready and willing to pay". Though Valencia are desperate to hang on to Gaya it's believed that if a club is prepared to meet their valuation then they'll take the cash.

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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.