Arsenal’s 9 transfer targets before January deadline – list

Arsenal mean business. Yet to conclude any incomings this month, the bulk of the visible work has been on moving players out.

Sanctioning four senior departures including loans for Pablo Mari, Folarin Balogun and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the other move was a contract termination for Sead Kolasinac. These were all deals that needed happening in their own right.

They also do nothing for the current plight of the team. And in Maitland-Niles’ case, that loan has has proven costly since the turn of the year with midfield numbers heavily depleted and players being overworked and played out of position as a result.

Capping off January with a drab 0-0 draw to Burnley, the fifth match in a row without victory, has hammered home the importance of securing invaluable additions before Monday’s deadline.

Arsenal’s 9 transfer targets before January deadline – Mikel Arteta’s midfield and striker options revealed

One of those won’t be Dusan Vlahovic. The striker has been the Gunners’ number one target this month, a deal they’ve pursued to no avail. Juventus are closing in on his signature this month, and even if they don’t land him now, they or someone else will in the summer.

Mikel Arteta is desperate to end the month on a high, openly discussing his desire to lift the level of his squad with new additions, and the manager even flew to America for face-to-face meetings with the Kroenke owners where the primary topic of debate was sure to be transfers.

Targets have cropped up in various outlets across the globe, with some far more believable than others, although it appears that the final furlong in this window contains nine primary names in particular as per a report from The Athletic.

Drawing up a contingency list is essential for Edu and co, especially with the Vlahovic dream taking up a large chunk of the window, and with three in mind from the following nine, what might we expect to happen before the deadline? Here are the nine names.

1. Matt Turner – New England Revolution

Age: 27
Contract expiry: N/A
Rumoured fee: £5m

Starting with the one that most supporters can feel fairly confident about, Arsenal are working on a deal to sign USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner.

A left-field move that few anticipated happening, this looks like one that has arisen out of Bernd Leno’s desire to move on and play first-team football. Had he have been content holding off until the summer then Arsenal would probably have gladly waited, yet with the opportunity presenting itself it’s now in the workd.

Initial talk centred around a £10m made up of various add-ons, but the latest word from Chris Wheatley says that Arsenal are hoping to land the 27-year-old for around £5m. Everything has been agreed between the player and the Gunners, with the two clubs just needing to agree on the formalities of the deal.

Turner will come in and provide backup, and possibly competition, for Aaron Ramsdale which should open the door for Leno to leave this month, potentially to Newcastle United on loan.

Of all the names on the list, Turner looks most likely to be donning red and white shortly.

Standalone verdict: No reason not to trust the goalkeeper scouts after the Ramsdale coup, so sign him up!

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