With the January transfer window fast approaching, speculation over potential deals in the new year is starting to ramp up in the British press.

Arsenal have been consistently linked with former Stoke City midfielder Steven Nzonzi, with The Daily Mail today confirming the player’s intentions to leave Sevilla and again listing the Emirates Stadium as a possible destination.

There is no doubting that the combustive enforcer has improved considerably since leaving the English game in 2015.

During that time Nzonzi has been part of a Sevilla team that has progressed both in La Liga and on the continent, while earlier this year the 28-year-old won a call-up to the massively competitive France national squad.

With talk that the Frenchman wants a return to the Premier League, should Arsenal follow up on his reported availability?

Looking at it objectively, Nzonzi would bring energy, tenacity and leadership to a Gunners side that unfortunately has been devoid of these attributes at crucial times in the last few years.

However, the potential for Arsene Wenger splashing the required significant fee to land the midfielder in the upcoming January transfer window looks unlikely.

The Arsenal manager’s reluctance to spend mid-season is well-known but a new face or two would certainly be a welcome boost for the Emirates Stadium faithful.

But, if the Gunners are to break out the cheque book next month, Nzonzi’s name should be relatively far down the wanted list.

Arsenal already have a host of central midfielders with similar attributes to the former Stoke man, with Granit Xhaka being backed by Wenger as a regular starter in his side of late to fulfil this task.

Add to this the presence of Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny as fellow physical options in the boiler room and the need for Nzonzi to be signed reduces.

However, looking at the central defensive players that Wenger has to pick from and a new priority for the January window becomes clear.

With Shkodran Mustafi consistently injured, Rob Holding still inexperienced and Nacho Monreal playing out of position, a reliance on ageing campaigner Laurent Koscielny is not healthy for a club possessing aspirations of silverware.

As such, if Arsenal are to make moves in the transfer market in January, the money would be much more wisely spent on a new centre-half that can add stability at the back rather than another physical midfielder like Nzonzi.