Arsenal are apparently preparing a £45 million bid for Liverpool star Raheem Sterling.

Influential twitter user @DeanLDN22, who has a huge following on the social network site, believes the England international is looking for a move back to his roots.

The 20-year-old grew up in London and was part of Queens Park Rangers youth team until four years ago when he was prized away to Anfield.

Barcelona defender Martin Montoya is interested clubs in various countries and Arsenal are believed to be among the front runners for the 23-year-old.

Daily Star quoted Juan De Dios Carrasco, Montoya’s agent, recently and he revealed his client is attracting suitors from across the globe.

The Spaniard’s future has been a hot topic of debate after it was suggested that Barca boss Luis Enrique was willing to let the right-back leave as he didn’t figure in his first-team plans.

Gunners have only one fit centre-back going into the clash against the St James' Park outfit, who are one of the form teams in the league having beaten league leaders Chelsea in last weekend's Premier League fixture.

The north London club have had a wretched run when it comes to injuries being picked up by their players and have not played their regular back four since Mathieu Debuchy got injured in September. The Frenchman has since returned, but it does look like the manager will have to look at the reserves to make up the numbers on Saturday.

Lucas Silva, 21, had been strongly linked with a move to the Bernabeu, the player himself had been talking about a potential link-up with Cristiano Ronaldo.

However Madrid have so far refused to improve on their opening offer of 12 million euros.

The winger left Torino this summer to sign with the La Liga champions for €16 million could be on his way to England in January with Arsenal being the likely destination.

His time in Spain has been surprisingly underwhelming. The 27-year-old who has made no starts and just seven appearances from the bench is yet to impress Simeone.