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Arsenal have struggled to fill their midfield at times this season, although that could change in January after they allegedly joined Middlesbrough in the bidding for £8 million Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour.

"Arsenal came to scout Steven," agent Paul Stefani was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror. "His departure is possible."

Defour, 20, is a classy, French-speaking attacking midfielder who can play out wide or through the middle: a typical Wenger signing.

Fenerbahce left-back Roberto Carlos, meanwhile, has urged Arsenal to keep hold of current midfield general Francesc Fabregas.

The 21-year-old Spaniard is repeatedly subjected to rumours linking him with Barcelona and Carlos's former club Real Madrid, but the veteran Brazilian said: "For me their key player is Fabregas. He is a fabulous player and vital to the team.

"They are a very offensive outfit but they need a creator, and Fabregas does that as well as defending well."

It's tough at the top, but far worse at the bottom. Just ask Tottenham Hotspur, who are purported to be lining-up a double swoop for West Ham pair Scott Parker and Matthew Upson (Daily Mirror), along with free agent Stephen Appiah (The Times).

Despite their on-pitch woes, financially they are sound, having sold several of the key players who are now sorely missed.

While the aforementioned trio of signings would go some way to restoring balance to an attacking-midfield heavy squad, surely a proven striker is a necessity for a team that so far this season have scored the joint-fewest goals in the Premier League?

And why would Upson and Parker, in particular, leave a top-half side with an exciting new manager for a team in crisis?

Blackburn Rovers, meanwhile, are reported to have denied media claims that striker Roque Santa Cruz has an £18 million release clause in his contract (The Sun).

Paraguay star Santa Cruz was linked with Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City in the summer but signed a new contract at Ewood.

Despite Steve Bruce's claims that Wigan have an agreement in principle with infamous shysters Zamalek to sign Amr Zaki at the end of the season, he will cost more than the original £6 million transfer fee whether bigger clubs enter the bidding or not.

Part of the initial loan deal for Zaki includes an additional £500,000 if he hits double figures. Zaki already has seven league goals in less than two months at the club and Bruce is already desperately trying to make the transfer permanent. An African transfer record beckons...

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is reported to be looking for someone to take the pressure off young goalkeeper Joe Hart, and after a proposed move for Juventus shot-stopper Gianluigi Buffon was laughed off by the Italian, Marseille and France star Steve Mandanda has been tipped for a move to Eastlands (The Sun).

Congo-born Mandanda, 23, only joined from Le Havre last season and would cost in excess of £10m.

Dropping down to the Championship, Sheffield United full-back Derek Geary is tipped for a reunion with former boss Neil Warnock at Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest and Swansea are being linked with Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince .

And, in an off-topic example of how crazy the world of football has become, former World Player of the Year Rivaldo was forced to deny claims he could be set to return to Brazil from Uzbek club Bunyodkor - because no-one in one of the planet's biggest football countries can afford to pay £80,000 a week to a 36-year-old.

Reda Maher / Eurosport