Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Gunners battle Red Devils for Joao Felix as Emile Smith Rowe ‘close’ to injury return

Merry Christmas, Arsenal fans

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed the club will indeed be “active” in the transfer window following Gabriel Jesus’ recent knee surgery.

He said: “We are going to be active and active means we are looking to strengthen the team.

“This squad still doesn’t have the luxury of not maximising every single window.

“We have to do that because it’s really important, but then we have to get the right profile.

“It has to be the right player to take us to the next level.”

The north Londoners, meanwhile, have been told they’ll have to fork out a mere £8million to sign Atletico Madrid ace Joao Felix.

The Portugal ace is looking for a new challenge and is open to leaving the Wanda Metropolitano in the January transfer window.

And it’s claimed Atleti are willing to let the forward leave on loan for a fee of £8m.

That’s according to journalist Duncan Castles, who claims the Spaniards would want Felix’s wages to be paid in full.

The Gunners are expected to receive competition for Marco Asensio’s signature from French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

Asensio is looking to move on to greener pastures after eight years at the Bernabeu and is said to be open to a move to the Premier League.

Arsenal are long-term admirers of the forward, with reports claiming Arteta views him as a potential solid addition to the squad.

But the Spaniard could face difficulty signing his countryman if, as Calciomercato claim, PSG have indeed entered the race to sign him.

It was recently claimed that Asensio was offered to both Arsenal and Manchester United.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano said: “Asensio has been offered by his agent to many important English clubs including Arsenal, Man United in the last two weeks.”