Arsene Wenger has ruled out the possibility of saving Alex Song’s career by throwing him a lifeline with the promise of an Arsenal return, advising the midfielder to stick with Barcelona for a few more seasons. Song left the Emirates along with Robin van Persie last summer but unlike his former team-mate Song has found life hard at Barcelona, making just 12 La Liga appearances all season.

Barca paid £17m for the Cameroonian, who was a direct replacement for Seydou Keita. But the 25 year old hasn’t won the confidence of his new employers, often being played out of position in central defence due to the sheer lack of numbers in Barca’s squad. The player’s cousin recently declared that Song was extremely disillusioned at the Nou Camp, thus prompting rumours of a very quick return to his old home in North-London.

Barcelona midfielder Alex Song could make a surprise return to the Emirates next summer, according to the Express. Song moved from Arsenal to Barcelona this summer after having spent 7 years in London but has failed to make a significant impact with the Catalan side this season. The Cameroon international has made just 10 appearances in La Liga this season after being on the fringes of a vastly talented Barca midfield.

Song has been further under-cooked under the interim manager and Barca assistant coach Jordi Roura, who is deputizing for head coach Tito Vilanova. Song has made just 3 appearances in La Liga for Barcelona since the turn of the new year which has spiked a rumour regarding a move away for the 25 year.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reportedly sent his scouts to monitor Lyon’s defensive midfielder, Maxime Gonalons, according to The Daily Mail. Gonalons, 23, has been in Lyon’s ranks since his youth days and has already mustered 92 appearances for the French giants in Ligue 1 since his induction into the senior team in 2009. Gonalons is known to be a compact holding midfielder who is good on the ball and is one of the upcoming talents in France. He has also bagged 6 caps for the French national side and is now in the good books of national team manager Didier Deschamps.

Arsenal have been without a specialist holding midfielder since the departure Cameroon star Alex Song to Barcelona earlier in the summer and it looks like the Gunners boss is looking bolster the side’s defensive game by signing a replacement for him in the summer. Arsenal’s defense has been rather shaky at times this season with the back four leaking crucial goals, most of them due to inexcusable individual errors.

Barcelona right-back Dani Alves is impressed with young Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere and feels that the English sensation is a terrific prospect. The Telegraph reports that Dani Alves was particularly struck by the midfielder’s responsibility in his man of the match showing at the international friendly against Brazil earlier in the month.

Alves heaped praise on Wilshere while speaking to Spanish reporters recently and claimed that the 21 year old would be on his wishlist to sign for Barcelona, if he had the chance. Alves said, “He is a great player who we have met playing against Arsenal and without doubt he can reach the height of the players we have here at Barcelona like Xavi and Iniesta."

It is funny sometimes how life comes full circle. For the last decade, Arsenal and Barcelona have been at loggerheads with the Catalan giants accusing the Gunners of perpetually raiding their La Masia Academy in search of young talent, who the North Londoners can offer a fast track into first team football.

Now, Arsenal are getting a taste of their own medicine with Barcelona swooping like vultures around a trophy-less Arsenal, stealing finished articles, offering them the glory that the Gunners no longer seem capable of providing.

Arsene Wenger had shown an interest in Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama last summer and the Frenchman could battle Fulham to sign the Kenyan this January.

Wanyama played for Belgian club Beerschot before signing for Scottish champions Celtic in 2011. The defensive midfielder has scored 5 times in 21 Scottish Premier League games this season. The Kenya international is a versatile player who can slot back in central defence, making him an attractive option for the north London side.

Barcelona are prepared to dispose of midfielder Alex Song just months after buying him from Arsenal, with Chelsea and Liverpool believed to be keen on making an offer for the Cameroon international.

Song had been in blistering form for Arsenal when Barca paid a hefty £15 million to sign him in August. However, after the defensive midfielder managed just 7 La Liga appearance this season, the Spanish giants are considering putting him up for sale as he has failed to adapt to their fast-paced passing style of football.