ARSENAL GETTING DESPERATE
Almost as remarkable is The Sun's claim that Arsene Wenger has a 20-man shopping list as the clock clicks down to the end of the window.
In addition to almost securing the acquisitions of Chu-Young Park, Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos, Wenger is still believed to be searching desperately for midfield reinforcement.
'But £22m bid for Rennes holding midfielder Yann M'Vila was snubbed and there was no movement on a £12m offer for winger Marvin Martin from Sochaux,' says The Sun. 'Wenger, who has an astonishing list of 20 targets, also made a double enquiry for Everton duo Marouane Fellaini and Mikel Arteta.'
In addition, The Guardian believes that Arsenal are still seeking a new centre-half in addition to Mertesacker:
'While interest in Bolton Wanderers' Gary Cahill has cooled since the arrival of Mertesacker, the club could yet test Blackburn Rovers' resolve to retain
Christopher Samba even if the Ewood Park club would have to drop their £15m valuation of the Congolese defender for any deal to be concluded in this window. Samba would privately welcome the chance to compete in the Champions League and, like Cahill and Everton's Phil Jagielka, had been more of a priority than Mertesacker earlier in the summer, though the embarrassment suffered at Old Trafford appears to have shifted Wenger's outlook.'
The Daily Mirror, on the other hand, says 'Wenger is desperate for another creative player after losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri as he has decided to keep faith with Alex Song and Emmanuel Frimpong as midfield holding players, especially as Rennes want £30m for Yann M'Vila.
'Wenger has always had Eden Hazard at the top of his list and the Belgian forward has told Lille he wants to quit, but the French club want more than £30m.
'Wenger also rates Sochaux playmaker Marvin Martin and had an enquiry for Borussia Dortmund's Mario Gotze knocked back. Lazio forward Mauro Zarate is open to a loan deal while Chelsea duo Yossi Benayoun and Florent Malouda are 11th hour options as Arsenal still have a lot of balls up in the air ahead of deadline.'
