Arsenal: Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc hits out at Adrien Rabiot transfer request

Arsenal's hopes of clinching a move for reported target Adrien Rabiot have been given a boost after Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc hit out at the midfielder over his request to leave the club in January 2016.

The 20-year-old has enjoyed a run in the PSG first team during the past month after Marco Verratti suffered an ankle injury in early November. While the midfielder has made the most of his spell in the starting XI, Verratti is expected to replace him once he is fit again.

Fearing for his first-team chances, Rabiot has requested to leave the French capital on loan during the January transfer window, telling Telefoot the club should grant him his wish having stepped up in the absence of Verratti.

The Independent claims Arsenal could be a likely destination for the young midfielder, with key figures Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin both ruled out for a minimum of three months each. But Rabiot's request has understandably irked his manager, who believes the player has no right to dictate when he will leave having signed a new long-term deal just over a year ago.

"It annoys me," Blanc said, ahead of PSG's final Champions League group game against Shakhtar Donetsk. "I don't want to say anymore and I am going to concentrate on tomorrow's match. Adrien has to understand that when you have the possibility of going at the end of your contract and to leave for free, you can do it. Otherwise, when you sign a contract for five years with PSG, you have to respect your first club."

With Cazorla, Coquelin and Mikel Arteta all currently sidelined, Wenger is ready to bolster his options in the centre of the park, but only if deal is right. When asked about his plans in the January transfer window, Wenger recently told a press conference: "If I find the right quality, I will do something."