Arsenal Look To Spend Big In Late Transfer Rush

With just under 36 hours to go before the transfer window shuts it looks like a flurry of moves across the Premier League are about to take place.

The padlock on the Asenal transfer budget looks set to be unlocked as the Gunners try to replenish their depleted squad.

Mertersacker could be a Gunner by Wednesday night

With Armand Traore set to move to QPR, Nicklas Bendtner still on the chopping block and Lille, Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain all sniffing around Marouane Chamakh, Wenger has been told he has a whopping £70 million budget to spend to turn round whats been a terrible August for the Gunners.

According to The Sun, on Tuesday morning, Arsenal have had a bid of £6 million accepted by Fenerbahçe for their Brazilian defender André Santos, while BBC Sport reported on Tuesday afternoon that the Gunners were in talks with Per Mertesacker (above) from German side Werder Bremen.

Others on the Gunners hit list are Gary Cahill from Bolton, free agent Owen Hargreaves, Sochaux midfielder Marvin Martin, South Korean captain Park Chu-Young and Rennes star Yann M'Vila although Rennes are refusing to budge on their £17.7 million asking price.

The most surprising rumours surrounding the Gunners late spending spree are Asene's enquiry into the availability of Chelsea winger Florent Malouda and their bid for Chelsea defender Alex.

Chelsea too are making some waves in the transfer market in the final days of the transfer window.

Benayoun could be off to either Liverpool
or French Side Lille

The Blues have reportedly placed a bid of £8 million and Yossi Benayoun (left) for Liverpool midfielder Raul Meireles however Liverpool aren't interested in re-signing the Israeli, who left Anfield just 12 months ago for £5 million and it looks more likely that Yossi will be heading to French side Lille inside the next 24 hours.

Chelsea still haven't given up their chase for Tottenham's Luka Modric with Abramovich as intent to conclude a deal for the highly touted midfielder as he is to leave his North London home before Wednesday's deadline.

Finally Mr Villas-Boas is looking to entice left-midfielder Alcaro Pereira away from his old club Porto. Pereira is keen to complete the move but Porto have already rejected a £17.7 million bid from the London club and are reportedly looking for suitors to meet Pereira's buy-out clause of €30 million.

Else where in London Harry Redknapp is trying to turn around his early season nightmare with the acquisition of both Scott Parker and Owen Hargreaves (bellow), while Stoke and Sunderland look to battle it out for Spurs' lanky striker Peter Crouch.

Stoke have already landed Wilson Palacios from Tottenham after a medical last Sunday while Sunderland hope to also bring United striker Federico Macheda on a season long loan to the Stadium of Light.

Alan Hutton could also be heading away from White Hart Lane for a year to Alex McLeish's Aston Villa.

Scott Dann is reportedly on his way to Blackburn after they agreed to a £5 million fee for the Birmingham City defender while rival bidders QPR are set to begin talks with Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Fulham could be facing a mini exodus with Leicester City making a £4 million bid for Striker Andy Johnson while Sevilla are reportedly lining up a bid for playmaker Clint Dempsey, although Martin Jol has said he will not accept anything less than £8 million for the American forward.

A run down of Tuesdays transfers will come this evening as we head into the final 24 hours of the August window.