Bamba agent cools Arsenal talk The agent of Vitoria Guimaraes midfielder Ibrahima Bamba has cooled talk of his client joining Arsenal before Tuesday's January transfer deadline.

 Reports have strongly linked the 20-year-old with a move to Mikel Arteta's side and talk on social media heightened when his agent, Filipe Macedo Alves, was seen in London.

"It's true that I was in London, but I am just arriving from Germany, where I was watching Edmond Tapsoba's game," Alves told O Jogo. "Bamba is not the only player I work with.

"He [Bamba] has a player profile that is clearly of interest to many clubs, but today he is a Vitoria player and is only focused on Monday's game in Chaves.

"The market is open, but I'm not going to feed rumours."

Gunners must pay Zubimendi's £52.8m release clause

Real Sociedad have told Arsenal they will have to pay Martin Zubimendi's £52.8m release clause if they want to sign the midfielder this month, according to The Times.

Mikel Arteta wants to sign a central midfielder before the transfer window closes on Tuesday after Mohamed Elneny sustained a knee injury.

The report claims Sociedad are aware of Arsenal's interest in Zubimendi but the Spanish club are confident they will keep the 23-year-old, at least until the end of the season