Premier League transfer rumours rated: Man City, Chelsea, and Arsenal gossip assessed

With the festive fixture schedule well underway, and with the end of the year just days away, speculation surrounding the January transfer window is in full swing.

Whether it’s a title-deciding hitman or a relegation saviour, clubs across the Premier League are going to be on the lookout for the bargain swoop they need to kick them on to the next level.

We’ve picked out three of the top rumours that are doing the rounds today, and taken a closer a look at if they’re likely to happen, or if they’re destined to become tomorrow’s fish and chip papers...

Harry Kane to Manchester City?

The transfer rumour that simply refuses to die.

We all know how interested City were in signing Kane over the summer, and we all know that Kane, for his part, was pretty eager to force a move through too.

Of course, we’re now rapidly approaching the January transfer window and the England captain - or a doppelganger lacking his razor sharp finishing prowess - is still leading the line for Tottenham Hotspur, but it would appear that City aren’t done chasing him just yet.

According to a fresh report from Spanish outlet El Nacional, Pep Guardiola is convinced that the 28-year-old is the perfect man to spearhead his attacking juggernaut at the Etihad, and he could look to stir City chiefs into plotting a January swoop as a result.

Whether Spurs would be willing to acquiesce to any kind of midseason deal, however, is surely a matter of some debate.

Daniel Levy hung on to Kane like a man possessed a few months ago, and it’s hard to see how his stance would have softened any in the time since - especially with Antonio Conte now at the helm in north London.

You would imagine that part of the pitch to lure the Italian to north London probably included certain assurances about Kane’s future, and it would be hugely out of character for Levy to renege on them so swiftly.

There’s also the small matter of City’s continued links with Erling Haaland - you’d imagine they’ll sign one or the other, but definitely not both...

Antonio Rudiger set to leave Chelsea?

The German centre-back has been a standout performer for Thomas Tuchel’s European champions so far this season, and his impressive form has only served to heighten the need to resolve his ongoing contract uncertainty.

Rudiger’s current deal expires at the end of the season, and as yet, the Blues haven’t been able to tie him down to an extension.

Football Insider now report that the defender has been left “furious” with the manner in which negotiations have been progressing too.

The online publication claim that Rudiger has been offered less than the £140,000-a-week Mason Mount could receive for his proposed new deal - and the German ultimately feels that he is worth considerably more than that.

That would certainly add up, considering a recent report from the Daily Mail that the player looked set to quadruple his current £100,000-a-week wage packet by lighting the fuse on a bidding war between some of Europe’s top clubs.

It’s hard to imagine Chelsea being too enthralled at the prospect of meeting weekly demands of £400,000, but equally, losing a talent of Rudiger’s stature would be something of a hammer blow.

As such, those associated with the club will be hoping that the word “furious” is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting here, but as speculation continues to mount and mount, it’s hard to see there being this much smoke without at least some modicum of fire.

Arsenal in for Arthur?

Mikel Arteta’s promising young Arsenal side have overcome a truly dire start to their campaign to establish themselves as genuine top four contenders.

It was a busy summer of recruitment at the Emirates, but according to Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, the Gunners could look to reinforce again in January.

A potential swoop for Juventus midfielder Arthur is said to be on the cards, and while nothing is set in stone, this one probably falls squarely into the category of ‘yeah, could happen’.

The Brazilian has endured a torrid spell in Italy since signing from Barcelona in a deal worth around £61 million back in 2020, and since Max Allegri took over in the dugout in Turin, he has made just one Serie A start.

A winter move looks entirely plausible, and if the Gunners are keen to kick on and make good on the promise that they’ve shown in recent months, there’s no reason why they couldn’t look to secure another marquee signing in January.