Victor osimhen done, Gyokeres agreement,Kudus deal, Gabriel Martinelli departure”, Arsenal squad once the January transfer is over
Victor osimhen done, Gyokeres agreement,Kudus deal, Gabriel Martinelli departure”, Arsenal squad once the January transfer is over
Arsenal have not been at their best in recent weeks but it’s not all doom and gloom at Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s side are fourth in the Premier League, in the running to qualify for the Champions League round of 16 and in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
The weeks after the November international break will be crucial and Mikel Arteta will be hoping his side are right in the mix come the Christmas period. If this proves to be the case, the January transfer window may provide a decent opportunity to improve the squad with signings.
While the winter market can be notoriously difficult to operate in, deals are very much possible. After all, the Gunners brought in Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior and Jorginho in January 2023 and many supporters will be hoping for a transfer window just as active
So, what would a dream January transfer window look like for Arsenal? How many players could be brought in and moved on? football.london takes a look below.
Two players sign
The most exciting part. Who will Arsenal bring in during the January transfer window? Firstly, the events of last week need to be mentioned as Edu leaving his role as sporting director is far from ideal. Managing director Richard Garlick and head of football operations James King, alongside Arteta, will already have an idea of which players they want to bring in, although January is sometimes a reactive window rather than a proactive one.
football.london reported extensively in the summer that Arsenal were interested in signing a new forward, with both a No.9 and winger under consideration. Raheem Sterling eventually came in on loan from Chelsea but it hasn’t quite worked out yet for the former Liverpool and Man City man.
Gabriel Jesus has looked a shadow of himself this season while Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have been inconsistent. Kai Havertz has played well as a striker – contributing to eight goals in 17 appearances – but can also play slightly deeper in midfield.
One player who Arsenal have shown an interest in is Viktor Gyokeres. The 26-year-old frontman has been on fire for Sporting CP this campaign, scoring 23 goals and assisting four more in 18 appearances. Gyokeres looks the real deal and could be a decent signing for the Gunners, should they be able to get a deal over the line in January.
The striker’s £83million release clause may be an issue, however, although it has been reported that the Sweden international may be available for closer to £63million. If not January then it may be possible a strike a deal next summer, although if Gyokeres signs in January then it could be the difference between winning silverware and coming second.
So, if Gyokeres signs then would the Gunners also be in the market for a wide forward? The answer is potentially. One player who the north Londoners have scouted extensively is Nico Williams, with the Athletic Club star impressing in La Liga in recent years and shining on the world stage during Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.
It has been a slightly slower start to the 2024/25 season for Williams, though, as the 22-year-old has just two goals and two assists in 15 appearances for Athletic Club. His quality is undoubted, however, and would offer real pace, trickery and directness to the Arsenal forward line. If a deal can be struck the Gunners should not hesitate – although they may need to move some players on before entertaining such an idea.
Three players leave
For players to arrive through the door in January, there may need to be some exits. One player who probably needs to move on is Kieran Tierney. The left-back has not played a game of football since limping off while featuring for Scotland in Euro 2024.
It’s clear Tierney’s future is away from Emirates Stadium and a loan until the end of the season may be best for everybody. His contract expires in the summer of 2026 so Arsenal could still fetch a fee for the 27-year-old, but he needs to prove his fitness first.
Two players who also face uncertain futures are Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko. The left-footed defenders are mere squad players under Arteta and while both have played their part at times this campaign, they are not first-team regulars and probably never will be under Arteta. It’s possible both fetch fees of around £20million and while both will not be allowed to leave in the same window, it’s very much possible that one of them does move on.
Another who could be on the move is Gabriel Jesus. If attacking players such as Gyokeres and Williams are to join the Gunners in January, then getting Jesus off the books makes sense. The Brazilian just hasn’t been his usual self this season and has scored just one goal in 15 appearances. The 27-year-old is valued at €55million (£45.5million) by Transfermarkt so any sale could go towards potential incomings.
Dream Arsenal squad after January: David Raya, Neto, Tommy Setford; Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, William Saliba, Gabriel, Jakub Kiwior, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Jorginho, Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, Ethan Nwaneri; Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling, Nico Williams, Viktor Gyokeres
