Arsenal and Spurs set to battle for £40m ruthless striker as Man Utd eye stunning short-term deal

We are now at the halfway line of the January transfer window and that usually only means one thing: escalating rumours and last-minute negotiations to really get the excitement flowing.

So far, we haven't been short of new links to keep track of but as we approach the last weeks of the business window, reports are multiplying. Teams in the Premier League are hoping to complete their respective missions but this season is highly competitive and many clubs know they have a lot of work ahead of them.

The right signings could certainly make an impact, so let's take a look at some of the latest transfer rumours that have had us rubbing our hands together.

Arsenal and Spurs lock horns over striker

The two North London sides are both looking for a permanent signing to boost their goalscoring numbers up front and Football Insider has linked them both to a very exciting centre-forward. West Ham were one of the first showing interest but the outlet has now reported that Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and even Fulham are considering a swoop for Santiago Gimenez.

It's no surprise that the Feyenoord striker has been attracting attention from the Premier League. The 22-year-old has set the Eredivisie alight this season, with 18 goals and four assists in just 16 games so far. He is reportedly available between £30-40 million this month.

Naturally, the Dutch side do not want to lose Gimenez this month but they would prefer a summer sale, as they believe a 'better deal' could be offered by a side like Arsenal or Spurs.

The 3AM Verdict: Signing a young and prolific goalscorer for around £30 million is no-brainer for a club in need of a talisman up front. Not only will he deliver goals but his value will only increase, almost guaranteeing a profit when it comes to eventually selling him on. However, Feyenoord's stance may make it tricky to move now, but a summer revisit should definitely be on both club's agendas because if they don't move for him, someone else definitely will.

Man Utd eye huge loan move

One team who has struggled to find the back of the net this season is Manchester United and they are hunting for options to rectify this. The Reds have one of the lowest goal returns this season, with even clubs involved in the relegation battle finding the back of the net more times than them.

Now, according to Fichajes, United have entered the picture to sign Karim Benzema. Marca recently reported that the former Real Madrid man is unhappy at Saudi Arabia and he could be allowed to leave early after failing to show up to training on time.

Erik ten Hag's side have set their sights on Benzema as a potential loan option until the end of the season. Quite the link for a side looking to make a big statement in the Premier League.

The 3AM Verdict: This is certainly one of the more surprising links but it actually makes a fair bit of sense. Benzema recently turned 36 years of age and having never played in the Premier League before, now could be a golden opportunity to do so. There's no saying how many more years he will play for, but retirement is something that will no doubt soon be discussed. The Frenchman is one of the best strikers in the game and his threat in front of goal could be that boost United need while they continue to nurture Rasmus Højlund's potential.

Liverpool in three-way battle for defender

As Liverpool consider signing a new centre-back to ease their defensive troubles, they have been linked with a number of potential new signings. Joël Matip's ACL injury made the Reds consider their current situation, and with Virgil van Dijk not getting any younger, it might be time for Jurgen Klopp to scout the market and get a feel for some new faces who could start a new era at Anfield in the near future.

Telefoot has reported that the Reds have entered a three-way battle with Real Madrid and PSG to sign Leny Yoro from Lille (via AS). The 18-year-old is being 'followed by several powerful clubs' and will 'surely leave' the French outfit in the summer, as his current contract is due to expire next summer. Yoro has been dubbed 'the new Varane' and Liverpool have reportedly attempted to sign the rising star before.

The 3AM Verdict: Yoro is currently valued at €25 million (£21.4m) but with him entering the last 18 months of his contract, Klopp and his side could land a cut price deal. The defender has played in every match but one for Lille this season, already establishing himself as a key part of their senior set-up. At just 18 years of age, Klopp could mould Yoro into the a superb replacement for his ageing centre-backs, while also benefitting from a confident starter who he can deploy in rotation and rely on to step up if needed without worrying about inexperience.