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Arsenal'weigh up'move for Premier League star as Declan Rice transfer opportunity eyed

Arsenal will look to get back to winning ways when they host AS Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Gunners could only manage a draw at Fulham last time out as they missed the opportunity to close the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table after Saturday's Merseyside derby against Everton was cancelled.

However, Mikel Arteta's side are one of Europe's in-form teams, according to the Champions League standings, with three wins from their five league phase games so far.

But you already knew that, didn't you? Here, Football.London looks at some of the Arsenal news you might have missed.

Gunners target Brighton star

According to Spanish publication Fichajes, Arsenal are weighing up a bid of roughly £54m for Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro. The 23-year-old Brazilian has been in red-hot form since signing for the Seagulls last summer, scoring 24 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions.

This season, Pedro has flourished under new manager Fabian Hurzeler and has scored four goals and laid on a further three assists in nine Premier League games. Such form has the former Watford man linked with some of the Premier League's biggest clubs, including Arsenal.

FL says: "It is no surprise to see Arsenal linked with one of the Premier League's in-form strikers; after all, that has been one of the only faults of the club's recruitment in recent seasons.

"The Gunners' need for a ruthless finisher was once again underlined at Craven Cottage on Sunday as, despite suffocating Fulham with pressure, Mikel Arteta's side were unable to fire a late winner, resulting in two dropped points.

"It is for all of those reasons that links to Pedro make sense, and if true, a deal that could turn Arsenal from title hopefuls into title winners."

Arsenal could swoop for West Ham star

Arsenal could reportedly make a January move for West Ham United forward Mohammed Kudus - with a deal likely to cost in the region of £80m. According to TBR Football, West Ham could be willing to sanction the mid-season departure of Kudus, who joined the club from Ajax last summer.

It is claimed that the potential sale of Kudus could ease the Hammers' FFP worries and allow them to further bolster their front line, with the club likely to be without forward Michail Antonio for a significant period of time after his car crash at the weekend. TBR adds that Kudus has a release clause of £80m and West Ham would only consider a sale if it was close to that figure.

FL says: "Kudus enjoyed a fine debut campaign at West Ham last season but has struggled to recapture that form this campaign, with the Hammers struggling under new boss Julen Lopetegui.

"And with West Ham said to be demanding a price tag close to £80m, it begs the question as to whether those funds could be spent elsewhere, especially given that the Gunners have Bukayo Saka in that position already.

"In terms of value for money, at this stage, Joao Pedro should be considered the priority signing instead of Kudus."

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