Arsenal news: Gunners hit £65m Antoine Semenyo snag as Man Utd target in contract talks

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As the dust settles on Sunday afternoon’s north London derby against Tottenham , Arsenal turn their focus towards a busy week. There will be no respite for Mikel Arteta or his players as the Premier League leaders take on Bayern Munich next in Wednesday’s Champions League fixture.

That will be followed by a crucial league visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Gunners manager and sporting director Andrea Berta will have one eye on the transfer market, with just over a month left until the January window opens.

However, barring any major injuries, Mirror Football understands Arsenal are not currently planning any big moves this winter. Instead, they will be focusing their efforts on forward-planning for the summer window.

We now take a look at two news stories that have emerged in the past few days which might determine how the north Londoners act in the coming transfer windows.

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Arsenal’s desire to upgrade in the left wing position in the summer was no secret. Antoine Semenyo’s incredible form over the past two seasons, along with his openness about being an Arsenal fan, has seen the Gunners linked with the Bournemouth sensation in recent months.

But it is highly unlikely that Arsenal will pull off a transfer for the Ghanaian, who is said to have a £65million release clause in his contract. Although the Gunners remain compliant with PSR rules, they are believed to be sailing close to the wind where UEFA Squad Cost rules are concerned after their record-breaking summer spending spree.

It is therefore understood that, barring any major sale on their part, January is set to be a quiet month in terms of transfer business in N5. That’s especially the case given that Arteta’s side have made a strong start to the season, with an abundance of depth at the Spaniard’s disposal.

Should Semenyo stay at the Vitality Stadium until the end of the campaign, when his release clause will decrease, Arsenal could change their position, particularly if Gabriel Martinelli is offloaded. But the 25-year-old Bournemouth star is already being linked with several rivals, including Liverpool and Tottenham, which means bringing him to the Emirates Stadium could be a huge challenge.

Another player Arteta is known to be a big fan of is Juventus ’ Kenan Yildiz. Berta has been keeping track of the Turkey international’s situation in Turin, although that is standard practice rather than a major development.

Yildiz, capable of playing as a left winger or as a central attacking midfielder, is still in contract talks with Juventus over a potential pay-rise, with the Serie A giants believing the 20-year-old deserves a more lucrative pay package.

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Yet, their negotiations are still ongoing after several months, with a positive outcome yet to be reached. Juve’s sporting director Giorgio Chiellini has maintained that the club are relaxed about the situation, with Yildiz being under contract until June 2029.

Sources close to Yildiz have confirmed there has been informal contact from a number of Premier League clubs in the past six months to gain an understanding of the Turk's situation. But, even if Juventus are unable to agree a new deal with the player, the ex-Bayern Munich youth sensation is expected to command a premium fee.

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