As part of their youth reconstruction programme, Arsenal are looking to recruit a number of promising young players from other sides, in this case one of the younger players could be seen as a first-team addition.

Both players are promising deep midfielders.

Arsenal have received a boost ahead of next season, with two key defenders pledging their immediate futures to the club, despite differing contract situations.

Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny have both been heavily linked away and have suggested a move is possible, but both are now expected to stay at Arsenal at least until the end of next season.

Sagna

Sagna is entering the last year of his contract, with Arsenal seemingly reluctant to offer an extension to the 30-year-old right back.

David Villa, a target for both Arsenal and Spurs, is set to look at offers on the table for his services.

The forward appears set to leave Barcelona after an unhappy season under Tito Vilanova, despite claims from their club president that he will be honouring his contract.

He of course came close to joining Arsenal in the summer, only for the move to be blocked.

There’s light at the end of the tunnel as far as the Gonzalo Higuain transfer saga is concerned. Juventus are set to pull out of the race for the Real Madrid striker, after their bid was blown out of the water by Arsenal’s.

The Italian side who at times seemed to have beaten the Gunners to Higuain’s signature are now focusing on Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez.

Bid

Arsenal’s bid is upwards of £20m, far closer to Real’s asking price than Juventus’s £18.7m-in-installments bid, a typical Italian technique that often fails to impress larger continental sides. With Juventus leaving the race, seemingly defeated, Arsenal are free to complete the deal. Then again, this is Arsenal we’re talking about, so he could be having his medical in Turin tomorrow.

We bring you all the latest and constantly updated Arsenal latest transfer news & rumours from various sources. Check back often for all the latest transfer speculations and confirmed deals. If you heard something, but don't see a player name here then rumour and its source were too ridiculous to be included in the list.

Fellaini latest

• Arsenal deny activating Marouane Fellaini’s release clause
• Arsenal plan to activate the release clause

Higuain latest

• Juventus to pull out, Arsenal close to deal
• Arsenal make record bid for Gonzalo Higuain

Jovetic latest

• Jovetic wants to join Juventus

Ashley Williams

• Williams for sale
• Swansea chairman:  Arsenal have made no contact yet

Rooney latest

• Arsenal end Rooney interest
• Wenger keen on Rooney
• Arsenal can't afford Rooney wages

David Villa latest

• Villa ‘very happy in Barcelona’

Fabregas latest

• Fabregas - Very happy at Barcelona

Manchester United’s unsettled winger Nani has emerged as a surprise target for Arsenal.

Linked in the winter with a move to London, it seems Arsenal still harbour an interest in signing the Portuguese forward, for a fee of around £8.5m

Flop

Nani is not exactly flavour of the month at Old Trafford, demanding a bumper new contract despite falling out of favour in a big way this season. He made only 11 appearances, scoring 3 goals, and showed more of his frustrating side than the exciting skill that kept him at United for 6 years.

It appears that Arsenal have ended their pursuit of Wayne Rooney in favour of Gonzalo Higuain, who appears close to an Emirates switch.

The BBC’s David Ornstein, who has very reliable contacts within Arsenal, had twice denied Arsenal are in for the England international, despite rampant Twitter and press speculation to the contrary.

Today he confirmed Arsenal were interested in Higuain and continued to deny Rooney.