Manuel Almunia’s future at Arsenal has become unclear, with it understood that Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has tabled an £8million bid to lure Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given away from St James’ Park, according to reports.

32-year-old Given, who is also a target for Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City has been hailed as the best shot-stopper in the Premiership by Magpies boss Joe Kinnear. However, with no indication of how much Kinnear will be given by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to strengthen the side in January, Kinnear may have to sell to raise funds for potential transfer targets.

Although Kinnear would be loathed to sell Republic of Ireland International Given. The reported £8million offered by Arsenal could prove too good to turn down and be enough to prise the keeper away from his 10-year stay at the North East club to the Emirates Stadium in January.

However, Spurs have also been linked with Given and could make an offer to bring the Irishman to White Hart Lane if manager Harry Redknapp decides to sell Heurelho Gomes back to former club PSV Eindhoven, with talks already understood to be underway between the two sides.

City are also reportedly interested in Given, with the club having been previously linked with a big-money move for Italian International Gianluigi Buffon at Juventus and Diego Lopez at La Liga club Villarreal.