With Alexis Sanchez expected to complete his move to one of the Manchester clubs in the next couple of days, talk at Arsenal has already shifted to identifying the Chilean’s replacement.

Arsene Wenger insists the Gunners will replace Sanchez – who was left out of the squad to face Bournemouth on Sunday – this month if he leaves, but refused to be drawn on possible new arrivals.

Bordeaux’s Brazil forward Malcolm has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, but when quizzed on that situation Wenger refused to be pushed into any real revelation.

“There is nothing concrete there,” said Wenger, on the latest over Malcolm’s future. “It’s better I don’t come out on any specific name.”

Riyad Mahrez could be worth £100million in the summer, according to Leicester boss Claude Puel.

The Foxes do not want to sell the winger amid further speculation about his future this month.  Mahrez asked to leave Leicester in the summer but only Roma made firm offers, their final bid rising to £32million.

Virgil van Dijk, who Puel worked with at Southampton, joined Liverpool for £75million earlier this month while Philippe Coutinho left Anfield to join Barcelona for a potential fee of £144m.

Puel feels that if Leicester were to ever sell, Mahrez – who may be rested for Tuesday’s FA Cup third-round replay against Fleetwood – should command a huge fee.

Puel told a press conference: “It is speculation and we cannot respond to all the speculation with information.  Perhaps, in the summer he will cost even more than £100m.

“It is always the same thing about Riyad. It is just rumours, noise about him and other players. All the rumours and speculation about Riyad, do the reporters want him to leave the club?”

Stoke’s most important bit of January business has been finalised after they announced Paul Lambert as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

The former Norwich and Aston Villa boss replaces the sacked Mark Hughes, who left the club after an embarrassing FA Cup defeat to Coventry and with the Potters languishing in the Premier League relegation zone.

Derby’s Gary Rowett, Espanyol’s Quique Sanchez Flores and Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill were all considered targets but the former signed a new contract last week and over the weekend the other two ruled themselves out of contention.

Vice-chairman John Coates said it was imperative the new manager had Premier League experience, as he said: “We were determined to appoint someone with Premier League experience or an extensive knowledge of English football.

“Paul has been successful in management at clubs with a strong and stable background and with local ownership – the kind of foundation we are able to give to our managers. We look forward to working with Paul and supporting him to help achieve our goals.”