HERE WE GO! Arsenal owner Sir Stan Kroenke has approved Mikel Arteta’s request for the sale of SIX Arsenal players- Their replacements named
HERE WE GO! Arsenal owner Sir Stan Kroenke has approved Mikel Arteta’s request for the sale of SIX Arsenal players- Their replacements named
Arsenal’s reported eight-man shortlist of attacking January transfer window targets all look to have been blocked from moving this winter.
The Gunners’ goal tally has been below the par Mikel Arteta has set so far this season, and the loss of top contributor Bukayo Saka, who boasts nine goals and 13 assists across all competitions, is a significant setback. Saka is set to be out of action until at least March following hamstring surgery, prompting speculation that Arteta might dip into the winter market to reinforce his offensive options
Two years ago, Leandro Trossard was a smart piece of January business, signing from Brighton in a deal worth up to £27million. However, securing such deals mid-season is notoriously more challenging than in the summer, and it seems this year will be no exception.
Eight players have reportedly caught the eye on the red side of north London. They are Alexander Isak, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Leroy Sane, Benjamin Sesko, Nico Williams, Florian Wirtz and Arda Guler.
Newcastle United have reportedly slapped a hefty £150million price tag on Isak to deter potential suitors. Similarly, Wolves are said to be unwilling to sell Cunha, who they are currently in contract extension talks with.
Thomas Frank quickly dismissed rumours about Mbeumo, who netted a goal against Arsenal on New Year’s Day. Ahead of Brentford’s 3-1 loss, Frank made their stance clear by saying: “In January? I would say good luck. We love Bryan. He loves playing here. He has had a fantastic season, so nothing will happen.”
While that trio of Premier League stars have been pivotal for their teams, Sane has been somewhat peripheral at Bayern Munich under Vincent Kompany, with his contract winding down. Despite this, a mid-season move back to England for the former Manchester City winger has been discounted by Bayern, as per German media reports.
Securing Sesko would require a hefty investment, one that Arsenal are not prepared to make right now, especially with Leipzig having him under contract until 2029. Williams appears set to stay on Arsenal’s radar for the long term too, even with a £49m buyout clause.
The Spanish forward has consistently expressed his dedication to Athletic Bilbao and seems reluctant to disrupt their Champions League qualification bid by leaving mid-season. Euro 2024 standout Wirtz is reportedly nearing a contract renewal with Bayer Leverkusen, further dampening transfer hopes.
Meanwhile, Guler might be looking to leave Real Madrid due to limited game time, but any move is unlikely to materialise before the summer. Arteta and the board have plenty of time to reconsider their options in the upcoming weeks, but the typical challenges of persuading both clubs and players to make moves in January could result in another frustrating window without a new striker.
