Paper Round: Arsenal chase 'new Ian Wright'

Arsenal chase former non-league star: According to a report in the Express, Arsenal are tracking Ipswich Town youngster Tyrone Mings, who was playing non-league football just two years ago. The 21-year-old has impressed at Portman Road since taking over defensive duties from Aaron Cresswell who moved to West Ham during the summer months. Crystal Palace attempted to lure Mings away from Ipswich in the transfer window, but had a £3 million offer rejected from the Championship club. The Express reports that Arsenal’s chief scout Steve Rowley was at Portman Road over the weekend to watch the defender and report back to Arsene Wenger.

Paper round’s view: Ian Wright was working as a bricklayer and playing non-league football when Crystal Palace came calling in the late 1980s - and Wrighty went on to establish himself as a genuine legend at Arsenal with 185 goals in 288 games, so don't write Mings off simply because he slipped through the net a few years ago. Mings actually started his footballing life at Southampton’s prestigious football academy; however, he, unlike Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, failed to progress and eventually dropped down into non-league football where he made 13 appearances for Chippenham Town. Ipswich eventually picked up the defender and he has since been attracting much attention. Everton and Sunderland are also reportedly interested in Mings, but Arsenal could look to make an early offer by attempting to clinch the deal in January. If the move goes through it will mark meteoric rise for the player.

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Liverpool want Ayew as Balotelli continues to toil: Liverpool are hoping to sign Marseille forward Andre Ayew in the summer, according to the Daily Star. “The 24-year-old is coming to the end of his contract with the Ligue 1 club meaning Brendan Rodgers would be able to snap up the Ghanaian star on a free transfer at the end of the season,” says the report in the Star. “Rodgers is becoming increasingly frustrated with the misfiring Mario Balotelli, who is yet to register a Premier League goal, and could turn to Ayew in the summer or try and bring him to Anfield for a cut-price fee in January.”

Paper round’s view: Balotelli has had 30 shots at goal so far this season without finding the net – the third highest of any player in England’s top flight - and Liverpool simply can't afford to carry any dead weight if they're to retain Champions League football next season. And though the Reds have Belgian striker Divock Origi on the books, after signing in the summer he was immediately sent him back on loan to former club Lille - and although much is hoped of the youngster, he lacks experience. Ayew, by contrast, has been plying his trade in Ligue 1 for a number of years and has nearly 150 league appearances for Marseille. Whether it be January or the summer, Ayew would certainly come cheap.

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United line up £15m Darmian: Manchester United are preparing a deal for Torino full-back Matteo Darmian and will offer the Serie A side £15 million for his services, according to the Express. Last week, reports in the press suggested that United had agreed a preliminary deal with Barcelona right-back Dani Alves, who will reportedly leave Barcelona following the end of the La Liga season. However, the Express believe that Louis van Gaal’s is desperate to sign a full-back in the immediate future, so will turn to Darmian in January.

Paper round’s view: Italy’s World Cup star is widely regarded as one of the best young full-backs in the game and can play on either side. It has been reported that Van Gaal has been to see the 24-year-old play on a number of occasions this season and is targeting him as a replacement for right-sided defender Rafael. Whether the reports claiming that Alves will move to Old Trafford in the summer are correct or not, there is a pressing need to bolster United’s defensive ranks and Van Gaal would certainly do well to acquire the services of the Italian in January.

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Johnson heads for Liverpool exit: Liverpool defender Glen Johnson is set to leave Anfield this summer after rejecting a new deal, according to the Mirror. The England full-back has reportedly rejected the chance to sign a new one-year deal after being told he will have to take significant pay cut on his £120,000-a-week wages. The 30-year-old will reportedly seek a move abroad – like former England team-mate Ashley Cole – despite attracting much attention from Premier League clubs and will be ready to listen to any offers come the start of the new year.

Paper round’s view: Liverpool’s policy of only offering those over 30 a one-year deal has seemingly angered Johnson, who is quite understandably reluctant on taking a pay cut from his weekly wage. Whether he quite deserves £120,000-a-week is another matter. But with the Reds having just tied Daniel Sturridge down to a £150,000-a-week, five-year deal, they are looking to trim their wage bill elsewhere. Johnson is sure to have a number of clubs queuing up for his services, but could benefit from a change of scene with a move abroad.