With the January transfer market edging ever closer, the transfer rumours are hotting up and this morning there are several players who are either being linked with us or look to be further away from a possible move to the Emirates than before.

Suarez

Luis Suarez, who we were linked with all summer and also had that bid of £40 million + £1 bid rejected, could be on the verge of signing a new deal with Liverpool

He has been in remarkable form for the Reds and they are set to reward him with a new contract. That would make any move in January or July from us increasingly unlikely and with every passing game it seems we have missed a huge opportunity.

When Arsenal were drawn into the same group as Champions League runners-up, Borussia Dortmund, and a resurgent Napoli side, every Arsenal fan shivered at the prospect of not qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time in 13 years.

However, a famous result at the Signal Iduna put Arsenal into pole position going into the final game after a victory versus Marseilles. All Arsenal had to do was avoid a 3-0 defeat and hope the other fixture went for them.

Unfortunately, the night in Naples did not turn out as planned and Arsenal suffered at the hands of Gonzalo Higuain. On the other hand, Arsenal advanced into the knockout stages as runners-up of their difficult group and continued their fine Champions League record.

It was a bittersweet feeling that night. Our defence and away record has been superb throughout the calendar year and many of us fans felt we could get a result in Naples. But, you can’t win every game because that’s not how football works.

Following a bad week for Arsenal, the last thing fans want to hear is news of one of the teams key players leaving the club. However, this may transpire to be the case with French international full-back Bacary Sagna.

The Frenchman, whose contract is up at the end of the season, is yet to commit to the club and is currently in negotiations with the club; however, things do not appear to be progressing smoothly.

Talks ongoing

Manager Arsene Wenger is confident that the full back will put pen-to-paper and sign a new two year deal with the club worth an estimated £70,000 per week.

Despite the current negotiations, Sagna has admitted he could move on, and a January departure is not off the cards.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers flew to Germany last night to watch Gunners target Julian Draxler star for Schalke in the Champions League.

Draxler put in a man of the match performance capped off with a goal as Schalke dumped Basel out of the Champions League and progressed themselves after only needing a draw, with Rodgers picking a perfect night to view the 20-year-old.

Draxler has been a long term target for Arsenal as well as Chelsea, and now Liverpool have shown an interest as Real Madrid supposedly preparing to bring in Luis Suarez next year.

Interest

Although Arsenal’s German contingent of Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski, Serge Gnabry and star man Mesut Ozil has put them at the front of the queue to pick up Draxler, Jose Mourinho is said to be desperate for him to join the Chelsea ranks.

As the January transfer window looms closer more rumours come to the surface although the two that have appeared this Wednesday morning seem to have an inch more truth than normal.

Although I regret that I have to inform you we aren’t being linked with possible scoops for Cristiano Ronaldo or Radamel Falcao, at least not yet.

No we are linked with two youngsters.

Kurt Zouma

John Cross of the Daily Mirror believes we have joined the hunt for supremely talented St Etienne defender Kurt Zouma.

Wenger is apparently keen to buy the £12 million-rated defender after trusted scout Gilles Grimandi gave Zouma a glowing reference.