David Vincent/Associated Press

Arsenal Transfer News: Ezequiel Lavezzi Bid Reported, Latest on David Ospina

Tom Sunderland

Paris Saint-Germain winger Ezequiel Lavezzi will spurn the advances of Arsenal after the Premier League club made a "formal approach" for his services, while goalkeeper David Ospina could be poised for a winter exit.

According to Spanish website Fichajes, Argentina international Lavezzi has already rejected an offer from the Gunners because he'd prefer a move back to Italy in 2016 (h/t Metro's George Bellshaw).  

Francois Mori/Associated Press

Speculation is surrounding Lavezzi's future at the Parc des Princes, largely because his PSG contract expires in the summer, and it's been suggested the French club could allow their winger to leave in the winter.

Bellshaw's report claimed the 30-year-old's agent is already in Rome for talks with Serie A representatives, while Italian reporter Marco Messina provided quotes confirming Lavezzi won't renew his deal in Paris:

The Gunners are in the hunt for attacking reinforcements after seeing Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez each spend time on the injury table recently, while Danny Welbeck has yet to feature this season.

Lavezzi is a realistic option for the usually frugal Gunners considering his soon-to-be expired contract in the French capital opens the possibility of a cut-price switch to London.

However, it appears the former Napoli ace now has his heart set on a return to Serie A, and Gianluca Di Marzio translator David Amoyal reported high-flying Inter and Juventus are in for his signature.

Lavezzi has started in just four of his 18 appearances under manager Laurent Blanc this season after falling seriously out of favour at PSG, but it appears the sunnier climate of Italy trumps that of England this winter.

Martin Mejia/Associated Press

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could find himself in a battle to keep hold of reserve goalkeeper Ospina following reports Besiktas are preparing a January offer for Arsenal's No. 2.

The club's vice-president, Ahmet Nur Cebi, was quoted by Metro's Jamie Sanderson, and he proclaimed his side's interest in the Colombian: "We are interested in Ospina. Him and goalkeepers of his calibre but just because we want him does not mean he will come. We have to agree with his club and take his contract into consideration."

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Ospina moved to the Emirates Stadium from Nice in 2014, but after making 23 appearances across all competitions last term, the 27-year-old is yet to feature in the Premier League this year.

The South American is firmly installed as Arsenal's second-choice stopper following the summer arrival of Petr Cech, and it's possible the first-team prospects in Istanbul may tempt him to Turkey.

LUIS ACOSTA/Getty Images

A report from Turkish outlet Milliyet (via Turkish Football writer Eren Sarigul) stated that incumbent Besiktas No. 1 Tolga Zengin has committed a string of "high-profile errors" in recent weeks, leading the club to chase a replacement.

Ospina himself has been held to account for a couple of mistakes this term, namely in the Champions League defeat to Olympiakos in September, but Besiktas appear to see value in the Colombia international.

That being said, Wenger may not be open to the idea of letting any players leave his squad this winter considering injuries have limited his resources enough already.

The manager will have one eye on the future of Wojciech Szczesny, currently on a season-long loan with Roma, but selling Ospina in January may still be considered an unfavourable move.

   

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