As usual the Sunday papers haven’t let us down in the Arsenal transfer gossip stakes, and we even have a couple of new names to take to the table.

The 20 year-old Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons is considered to be one of Frances most promising youngsters, and fits the mould of a possible Wenger signing.  He can play as a centreback or a defensive midfielder and is very tall and strong for his age, but perhaps more importantly, he is out of contract this coming summer.

Lyon do have an option on a two year extension so will probably want some compensation, but it seems that FIFA rules only provide for that if he moves to another French club. The Mirror is adamant that Wenger wants Gonalons at the Emirates as the youngster comes very highly recommended by Arsenal’s French scout Gilles Grimandi, and if he could get him on a free transfer as well, Wenger would be over the moon!

The second rumour concerns the talented Serbian midfielder Milos Krasic, who apparently has turned down an offer from Manchester City, and told his agent that he will only consider Arsenal or Man utd from the Premier League.

Krasic is also in the last year of his contract so his club, CSKA Moscow, may be forced to sell immediately or take the chance on letting him go for a Bosman. Last year’s Serbian Footballer of the Year could be available for around £10m unless a bidding war develops. The 25 year-old would certainly bring some class and experience to the Arsenal midfield.

The latest club rumoured to have joined the chase for Jack Wilshere is loan is apparently Newcastle, who are flying high in the Championship. Wenger must be snowed under with offers for the 18 year-old, but having said that he would prefer him to go to a Premiership team, it seems more likely that he will go to Bolton or West Ham, although Steve McClaren’s club FC Twente are also confident they can persuade Wenger to let Wilshere move to Holland.

The last rumour concerns the Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic from Dinamo Zagreb. Strangely enough Zagreb snapped him up as a replacement for Eduardo when he joined Arsenal. The strange part of this report in the Mail is that they go on to sa that Wenger has doubts that he would make the cut in the Premier League, despite averaging a goal every two games for Zagreb.

So that that qualify as a bona fide Arsenal rumour?

Cesc Fabregas and Gael Clichy have been included in the Arsenal squad set to face Bolton tomorrow.

Both players are fit-again and likely to start after recovering from hamstring and back injuries respectively.

The problem position for Arsenal seems to be in defensive midfield, with Denilson still injured and Alex Song at the African Nations Cup, Abou Diaby could play as cover.

Upfront, Nicklas Bendtner is another fortnight away from returning while the front three will probably be Samir Nasri, Eduardo and Andrey Arshavin playing centrally.

Welshman Aaron Ramsey misses out through a thigh niggle.

Quote:

“Denilson will have a test on Saturday and he is likely to be out,” said the manager at Friday’s press conference. “Ramsey had a muscular problem today and it is likely to be out too. The injury is high up on his thigh but I think it is short-term. “I am very short in midfield at the moment so even I am trying to practice at the moment!”