Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Edinson Cavani and William Carvalho Rumours

Arsenal have turned their attentions to Uruguay superstar Edinson Cavani after reportedly opting to end their interest in Karim Benzema. 

Spanish website Fichajes.net (h/t Metro) believe Arsene Wenger is preparing a £35.5 million offer for the player as the club look to acquire a world-class striker in the final weeks of the transfer window.
Fichajes say the Gunners are disappointed with Real Madrid's £45 million valuation of Benzema—a long-term target for Wenger—and will not pursue the deal if Los Blancos hold firm.

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Cavani plays second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Paris Saint-Germain, and even though the attacker would be a complicated transfer, Metro say he is now the Emirates club's "top target."
Wenger was questioned about his side's need for a new striker before their opening day defeat to West Ham United, and the veteran French coach did not rule out a move if the right player suddenly became available, per Oliver Todd of the Daily Mail:  "At the moment we do not have Sanchez, not Welbeck, and when these players come back we feel that we have the needed striking force. But we don't rule out as well if something exceptional turns up to do it."

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Club legend and pundit Thierry Henry backed up the idea of Arsenal signing a world-class goal scorer, saying to TalkSport (h/t Todd) the club cannot rely on Olivier Giroud alone, despite the French player's strong record:

I always say it's their year but there is a genuine buzz around the place right now. I think they can challenge this year for real if they stay injury-free. Giroud alone as a striker there—you can't win the league, you need another type of striker. I think Giroud is doing really well—he went on to score 14 goals in 18 games, that's amazing.

Cavani has often been played out of his favoured position for PSG, left to occupy the wider attacking spaces, but his goal record has remained impressive during his two years in the French capital.

Luis Hidalgo/Associated Press

The Uruguay international has scored 44 times in Ligue 1 and the Champions League during this spell, per WhoScored.com, and it is interesting to consider how many more goals he would have to his name if he were playing as the centre forward. Arsenal could offer him this opportunity, and with the creativity behind Cavani in Arsenal's midfield, the player could certainly statistically match the likes of Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa in the Premier League.
However, Cavani has always had his detractors, with many believing he isn't clinical enough and misses far too many chances.
Football blogger Seb Stafford-Bloor commented on the player's lack of genuine potency during PSG's most recent game:
 Arsenal fans will be hoping a Benzema deal is still on the