Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger rules out January move for Ipswich Town youngster Tyrone Mings

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out the possibility of Ipswich Town defender Tyrone Mings joining the club during the January transfer window.

Mings' growing reputation in the Championship has seen him heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in the new year.

Wenger recently confirmed the defender was one of a group of youngsters the clubs are keeping track of but has since ruled out the possibility of the player arriving at the club in the January window.

"No [we are not signing Mings]," Wenger told a press conference on Tuesday 23 December, the club's official website reports. "The intensity of the link is not down to us."

Mings, 21, plays primarily as a left-back but Wenger may envisage his long-term role being in the centre, an approach the Gunners boss has introduced to Calum Chambers this season after the youngster's emergence as a right-back at Southampton last term.

Wenger has once again seen his defensive options ravaged by injury this season. The Gunners are without Laurent Koscielny, who is struggling with a calf problem having also been troubled by an Achilles issue earlier in the season.

His lack of options at centre-half have seen Wenger deploy Mathieu Debuchy in a central position in the club's last two games, with youngster Hector Bellerin also earning more opportunities as a result of the shake-up.

Wenger, who promised supporters during the club's annual general meeting earlier in the season signings would be made in January, dropped his clearest hint yet of transfer activity this month, telling reporters: "With Koscielny we are a bit cautious and we need cover."

A holding midfielder is also thought to be in the Arsenal manager's thinking with the January transfer window looming.