Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Arsenal planning £52 million 'raid'

Arsene Wenger has consistently refused to 'splash the cash' on big money signings in recent years, but it appears the form of former £42m signing Mesut Ozil may have convinced the Gunnners that big money deals could be worth it.

The Daily Star are reporting the Gunners are willing to spend a combined £52m on Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka, 23, and Paris St-Germain's 20-year-old midfielder Adrien Rabiot after Wenger missed out on Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emmerick Aubameyang. They report Xhaka will cost £37m, while Rabiot's mother (and agent) is in London to discuss a £15m transfer.

But the London Evening Standard report that Basel's Mohamed Elneny will be Wenger's only signing in January - but hey, let's not let the truth get in the way of good transfer gossip.

Meanwhile, in potentially even worse Arsenal transfer news, The Express are reporting Aaron Ramsey is a summer target for Barcelona, and the Catalan giants also want Everton's John Stones for a cool £50m each.

Staying at Everton, The Sun say star striker Romelu Lukaku will snub Manchester United and sign for either Real Madrid or PSG in the summer.

Heading across to the other side of north London and our friends The Star again, as Tottenham are set to make another attempt to sign to wantaway striker Saido Berahino from West Brom and Spurs are willing to match their summer offer of £20m - but only by including £10m-rated winger Andros Townsend in the deal.

And Swansea are willing to offer former striker Wilfired Bony a ticket out of the Emirates and are also considering a deal for former Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong, according to the Sun.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has grown frustrated with striker Daniel Sturridge's persistent injury problems and is ready to listen to offers for the 26-year-old, says the Mirror.

And no gossip round-up would be complete without mention of Pep Guardiola, with Bayern's supercoach already informing Manchester City he wants Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, 25, and Athletic Bilbao centre-back Aymeric Laporte, 21, as part of his squad at Etihad Stadium, according to the Express.