Arsenal Transfer News: Wenger Lines Up £40m January Hit-List

Arsenal had a bid for Lille playmaker Eden Hazard turned down in the summer, according to the player's agent.

The 20-year-old has been linked with the north London side for a number of years and speculation has increased over a possible January move after the summer sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

Hazard's agent, John Bico, revealed that Arsenal made enquiries about the Belgium international's availability but Lille refused to sell having already sold Gervinho to the Gunners in July.

"Arsene Wenger wanted Hazard, but Lille said no to the sale last summer. Real Madrid have been watching too," Bico said in The Sun.

The striker signed a one-year contract extension with the French champions in March that ties him to the club until 2015.

Meanwhile, the Gunners have also been linked with a £23m January move for Porto frontman Hulk in today's press, as Wenger looks to bolster his strike force in the winter transfer window.

The Brazil international, who has hit 39 goals in 76 league games for the Portuguese champions, recently signed a five-year deal which contained a £100m release clause.

The player's representative, Teodoro Fonseca, told Portuguese newspaper A Bola that Arsenal would have to break the transfer record to bring the forward to the Emirates Stadium.

"Every year there are more clubs interested in Hulk and I am also aware that there are clubs from outside the Premier League interested.

"This Arsenal rumour is news to me but it is true that there has been contact before but nothing happened.

"But I speak often with Porto and the figures have not changed. He will only be sold if someone pays the £100m so this figure of £23m that has appeared would not be considered."