Arsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger close to completing deal for Legia Warsaw midfielder Krystian Bielik Getty

Arsenal have received a massive boost in their pursuit of Legia Warsaw midfielder Krystian Bielik after the player confirmed that he has eyes set on a move to the Emirates.

The Gunners have had a bid rejected for the 17-year-old but the player is confident that a deal will be signed soon and insisted that these negotiations take time to complete.

Arsene Wenger believes that the player has the potential to form a stable partnership in the middle of the park for the Gunners. Arsenal have let Kristoffer Olsson leave on a permanent deal earlier in the window.

"I've made a decision [to join Arsenal] and I'm not going to change it,' he said.

However, the signing is unlikely to appease Arsenal fans who want to see a big name being deployed in the middle of the park to add cover for their defence, something that Wenger has failed to address over the past couple of seasons.

Both Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini have entered their final year in contract without any intimation of an extension from the club.

The players have also entered their thirties, with Arteta suffering from a chronic calf problem which has kept him out for a major part of the season.

The Gunners are reportedly keeping a close eye on Morgan Schneiderlin but will only make a move in the summer, with the France international unwilling to leave Southampton in January, given they currently find themselves stationed in the top four, three points above the Gunners.

The north London club have also expressed an interest in William Carvalho from Sporting Lisbon but are yet to make a bid.

Arsenal are likely to move in for a centre-back to provide competition at the heart of defence, with Winston Reid's name being floated around the park. The West Ham defender is in his final year in contract and is almost confirmed to leave the club in this window than on a free in the summer.