Arsenal in contact over Denis Zakaria free transfer

Arsenal will be enjoying minor celebrations at the turn of the year as they’ve been handed the kind kick-off time of midday on January 1 against none other than Manchester City.

A perilous task awaits them and some supporters have already got their eyes on what will come in the weeks after as the January transfer window comes across as a more inviting prospect than the biannual drubbing at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s side.

That clash will be the final one of the month where Arsenal can call upon their four African players: Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all either leaving or have already left.

With two central midfielders departing and it looking increasingly like Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be joining Roma over the winter on an initial loan deal expected to become permanent, the options in midfield will be heavily depleted.

Arsenal in contact over Denis Zakaria free transfer as Mikel Arteta eyes midfield reinforcements in summer window

Granit Xhaka is indomitable, but even for him it will be a tough ask alongside Sambi Lokonga over January as they are the only two senior central midfielders Mikel Arteta can call upon. So, naturally, some reinforcements have been tipped.

One of those is Denis Zakaria, who has been a long-standing target for the Gunners, at least as far as the rumours are concerned. The midfielder was formerly a priority signing for Manchester City before he suffered a long-term injury, and ever since he’s been building his fitness back up.

Zakaria is out of contract with current employers Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer and his intention to leave the Bundesliga side has even been made official by the club itself. Able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with clubs from January, the list of potential suitors for the Swiss enforcer is piling up.

One of whom is Arsenal. As per German outlet Fussball Transfers, the Gunners are ‘in contact’ with the 25-year-old over a deal, but not for the upcoming winter window.

Their focus is on securing his signature for free at the end of the season. It would be a move to suit Arsenal and their dwindling numbers in central midfield, although it does nothing to aid their current situation.

Contacts have been made over getting a deal in place the summer though, one that Manchester United and Manchester City are both also interested in. As for the player, Zakaria has managed to wrestle back some improved form following his multiple fitness setbacks, but it is that injury record that continues to cause concern.

Riddled with issues over the past few seasons, a free transfer in the summer might be a show of hesitancy from the Gunners to invest a transfer fee. However, if they did want him and felt the injury issues were behind him, then surely whatever modest figure it would take in January would serve them better.