As we enter the second half of the Premier League season, Arsenal are nonetheless very a lot within the race for the title, however Mikel Arteta could really feel he has to strengthen his squad this month if they will make up the bottom on Liverpool.
With Bukayo Saka injured and query marks over Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, the Gunners might look to strengthen in a variety of totally different positions this winter. Let’s check out 5 gamers who would improve the present squad.
Associated
Imagine him & Nwaneri: Arsenal could sign “unstoppable” Cunha upgrade
Arsenal seem like focusing on attacking reinforcements earlier than the top of the January window.
1
Nico Williams
Athletic Membership
Saka is ready to be sidelined for greater than two months attributable to a hamstring harm that required surgical procedure, that means the right-wing place is now an issue one for Arteta.
Ethan Nwaneri was spectacular in Saka’s absence, scoring towards Brighton & Hove Albion, however Arsenal could also be eager to herald a participant already confirmed on the prime stage relatively than sticking with a scorching prospect, significantly in light of the youngster’s own recent injury.
Nico Williams performed a key position in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph final summer time, scoring towards England within the last, and he was very spectacular in La Liga through the 2023/24 marketing campaign, choosing up 14 assists.
The Gunners have reportedly already opened talks with the Spaniard’s agent, and they’re ready to trigger his comparatively reasonably priced launch clause of £48m ought to he give the inexperienced mild, so will probably be attention-grabbing to see if issues advance over the following few weeks.
Associated
Arsenal’s most expensive sales of all time
Soccer FanCast takes a take a look at Arsenal’s file departures of their historical past.
2
Randal Kolo Muani
PSG
Though Williams’ launch clause needs to be inside Arsenal’s finances, they might be hesitant to decide to such an outlay within the January switch window, particularly contemplating Saka shall be again earlier than the top of the season.
As such, the Gunners might look to herald a short-term choice till the top of the marketing campaign, which makes Randal Kolo Muani a beautiful proposition.
The Frenchman is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain this month, doubtlessly on mortgage, and a transfer to the Emirates Stadium may be very a lot a risk.
The 26-year-old is capable of enjoying on each wings and at centre-forward, making him a flexible choice for Arteta within the last third, however signing him would undoubtedly be a raffle.
If the attacker is ready to rediscover his type from the 2022/23 season, throughout which he amassed 29 aim contributions in 32 Bundesliga video games for Eintracht Frankfurt, he may very well be a strong addition to the squad.
Nevertheless, Kolo Muani has did not file comparable numbers with PSG, and the French membership’s willingness to sanction his departure casts doubt over whether or not he can be an acceptable signing this month.
Associated
5 players who could leave Arsenal this January
Various gamers may very well be on the transfer this winter…
3
Matheus Cunha
Wolves
Gabriel Jesus has stepped up his recreation over the previous few weeks, bagging 5 objectives in two outings towards Crystal Palace after which as soon as extra towards Brentford, however he wasn’t at his finest in Havertz’s absence towards Brighton, as Arsenal dropped one other two factors within the title race.
With that in thoughts, Arteta could take a look at bringing in a brand new striker this month, and one ahead who has definitely delivered within the Premier League this season is Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian’s objectives maintaining Wolverhampton Wanderers above water within the relegation battle.
TalkSport’s Rory Jennings has tipped Cunha to switch the injured Saka this month, having featured typically on the wing all through his profession.
The 25-year-old has excelled in a centre-forward position this season, proving himself to be a extra dependable goalscorer than his compatriot Jesus, so it will make sense for the Gunners to pursue a transfer.
The one problem is the deal might quantity to as a lot as £90m based mostly on earlier studies, with Wolves unwilling to promote except they obtain an astronomical supply, and the striker is arguably but to show he’s worthy of an outlay that prime.
4
Victor Osimhen
Galatasaray/Napoli
Cunha is but to show himself over a protracted interval on the prime stage, however Arsenal have an alternative choice in thoughts who has Champions League expertise and performed a significant position in Napoli’s Serie A title triumph in 2023.
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen scored 26 league objectives within the 2022/23 marketing campaign, in addition to 5 within the Champions League, however his time with the Serie A membership got here to a bitter finish when he accomplished a mortgage transfer to Galatasaray in the summertime.
Throughout his time in Turkey, the ahead has continued his superb goalscoring type, with former Besiktas man Sergen Yalçın describing him as “undoubtedly the very best centre-forward” within the nation.
Studies have prompt that the Gunners are plotting a “box-office” deal for the 26-year-old, which might imply paying his launch clause of £66m – far lower than the £90m it will apparently take to prise Cunha away from Wolves.
Given Osimhen’s expertise within the Champions League and title races, he’s prone to be a greater choice than the Wolves star, and his arrival may very well be an actual enhance to Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes.
Associated
5
Jules Kounde
Barcelona
It seems as if Arteta’s foremost goal this month is to bolster his attacking choices, however a transfer for a defender just isn’t out of the query, with Arsenal thought to be preparing a £62m offer for Barcelona’s Jules Kounde.
The Frenchman is claimed to be interested by a transfer to the Premier League, and there’s a feeling that Barca could also be pressured to money in for a decrease charge amid their monetary points, with a deal doubtlessly potential for round simply €40m (£33m).
The 26-year-old is able to enjoying at centre-back and right-back, and given simply how vital he has been to Barcelona this season, there’s each signal that he might push Ben White for a beginning spot.
Soccer expertise scout Jacek Kulig has beforehand given an summary of the defender’s skills, tipping him to be one of many world’s finest in his place sooner or later.
Whereas signing a brand new defender just isn’t a necessity this January, Kounde may very well be a high quality addition, significantly when contemplating he could also be out there for a comparatively low charge.
Arsenal stay inside arm’s size of Liverpool, but when they’re to keep away from ending second for the third yr on the spin, it may very well be smart to herald some new choices this January – and Arteta has a variety of prime gamers to select from.
