Arsenal linked with free agent Yobo as big guns circle Reus

With the Arsenal defence even more flimsy than a new iphone6 could Arsene Wenger be contemplating a move for veteran Joseph Yobo? Rumours have emerged in recent days that the former Nigerian captain is being eyed up as a possible short-term solution by the Gunners because he is a free agent and therefore not bound by any transfer regulations.

Wenger is in desperate need of cover to ease the back-four injury crisis which has seen new signing Mathieu Debuchy sidelined for three months, Nacho Monreal ruled out for four matches and concerns emerge over the fitness of Calum Chambers, Per Mertesacker and Kieran Gibbs.

The name of Yobo has been put forward as a potential solution, but the 34-year-old ex-Everton blocker says he is yet to be approached by the Nutty Professor. "I read Arsenal was interested in me; it was news to me," he told the International Business Times. "If negotiations are taking place, I am not aware. Maybe the club is talking with my agent."

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Arsenal fans might be rather more keen on the idea of Marco Reus rocking up at the Emirates, and the Daily Express believes that it could happen at the end of the season, when under the terms of his contract with Borussia Dortmund, he will be available for just £20m.

So far neither club nor player have shown much willingness to enter into negotiations over a new deal, says the paper, and that has Arsenal among others, watching intently.

The Gunners may have their work cut out luring the German midfielder to the Emirates however, as the 25-year-old is also being courted by Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile the Daily Star claims that Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are "battling to sign" 15-year-old goalkeeper Mile Svilar from Anderlecht. The teenage gloveman is the fruit of the loins of former Yugoslavia keeper Ratko Svilar and it's been envisaged that when he comes of age he will sign professional terms with the Belgian club, who are grouped with the Gunners in this season's Champions League. But in an interview with Belgian rag Het Nieuwsblad, Svilar Snr revealed that all three Premier League clubs have expressed an interested. “Everyone wants him... even though he can't sign a contract until his 16th birthday," exclaimed the proud father.

Elsewhere and Metro says that Manchester United are "keen on making a move to bring Gerard Pique back to Old Trafford" from Barcelona. The Spanish defender left Old Trafford in 2008 in a £5m deal and has never looked back, helping the Catalan giants to four league titles, two Champions League victories and two Copa del Reys, while United have gone in the other direction and now think nothing of shipping five goals to the likes of Leicester. But Metro – taking as its source Spanish paper AS – says that Pique's days at the Camp Nou appear to be numbered and he has made just three starts this season under new boss Luis Enrique. As a result United boss Louis van Gaal hopes to “take advantage of the situation" by offering the 27-year-old Pique a return to Old Trafford.