Arsenal transfer news: Aaron Ramsey, Adrien Rabiot, Eric Bailly, Nicolas Pepe

Reds lead the race for Ramsey

Manchester United and Liverpool are set to pounce for Aaron Ramsey in the January window, claims The Sun, with the paper reporting that Arsenal are “braced” for offers for their Welsh wizard.

Since contract negotiations between the Gunners and Ramsey broke down last month, rumours have been rife that he will seek a new challenge next season.

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Italian clubs AC Milan, Juventus and Inter Milan have all been linked with the 27-year-old, but the Sun believes the opening bids will come from the north-west of England. The paper claims that Liverpool and United “are plotting a cheap swoop for the Wales star” the moment the January transfer window opens.

Apparently Arsenal will consider offers to avoid losing him for free at the end of the season and, although United boss Jose Mourinho is an admirer of the Welshman, Liverpool are believed to be “leading the race” for his signature.

How much will the Reds need to stump up to secure Ramsey’s signature? The Sun reckons he “could be available for as little as £20m to £25m”.

Three-way battle for Rabiot

The Daily Express says that Barcelona are ready to challenge Arsenal and Tottenham for the hand of Paris Saint-Germain star Adrien Rabiot.

The north London pair have been monitoring the midfielder’s situation in Paris but now Barcelona have muscled their way on to the scene. The Express, taking Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo as its source, report that Barca are “pushing to get a deal for Adrien Rabiot over the line in January”.

Rabiot, who is allegedly demanding pay parity with Marco Verratti at PSG, is known to be unsettled and contract talks have hit an impasse, hence the interest from Arsenal, Spurs and Barcelona.

Bid for Bailly?

Arsenal and Tottenham are also tracking Eric Bailly with a view to making a move for the Manchester United defender in January.

The Daily Mirror believes the centre-half “could be set to leave Old Trafford” after losing the confidence of Jose Mourinho and was substituted after just 20 minutes of Saturday’s game against Newcastle.

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery is “keen” on Bailly but United are unlikely to accept anything less than the £30m they paid Villarreal for the defender in 2016.

Pepe still being pursued

Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are the three clubs leading the race for Lille star Nicolas Pepe, reports talkSPORT, and the broadcaster says that the German giants “are ready to pull out all the stops” in order to sign the Ivory Coast international.

Pepe has been in blistering form in Ligue 1 this season and Arsenal were first linked with the 23-year-old forward last month.

Manchester United are also taking note, both for his goals for Lille and also his £30m price tag, but German outlet Sport Bild claims Bayern have made Pepe their priority January signing and they are “set to hold initial talks with the player’s entourage in the coming weeks”.