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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2. Tyler Adams – RB Leipzig

Age: 22
Contract expiry: 2025
Rumoured fee: £34m

It’s an American takeover at Arsenal. And no, not that takeover.

Someone the club were looking at in the summer is Tyler Adams, a defensive midfielder who has develop immeasurably during his time in the Red Bull system, learning a great deal under former boss Julian Nagelsmann and Jesse Marsch.

Central midfield will be vitally important for Arsenal in the summer, just as it is now. Come the end of the season the club could be left with just three senior options, while this season it’s the same scenario just with Mohamed Elneny thrown in for good measure.

There is ‘considerable interest’ in the 22-year-old, who Arsenal scouted both as a right-back and midfielder, and stylistically he fits what this team needs. Well versed in tactical shape and positioning, Adams has developed his all-round game over the years with neat passing and tackling all packaged into an incredible engine. Excellent reading of the game and high stability in central areas are admirable traits, just as his comfort playing as a inverted right-back is desirable.

Would RB Leipzig sell mid-season? There were reports of a £34m release clause in his contract, so Arsenal may want to push ahead. Adams is someone they’re very keen on.

Standalone verdict: Fits the bill and the recruitment strategy. Great talent.

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3. Bruno Guimaraes – Lyon

Age: 24
Contract expiry: 2024
Rumoured fee: £40m

Admired in the Emirates corridors, Bruno Guimaraes will have more than just Arsenal eyes on him this month and in the summer with his time at Lyon thought to be nearing its end.

A progressive powerhouse of a midfielder who carries into the final third more than 98% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, is capable of executing the low percentage passes, is fierce in the tackle and presses relentlessly. There is a lot to like about the Brazilian.

However, despite Lyon languishing in 11th place in Ligue 1 and in a position of financial weakness, all the talk has been that they will hold fast this window before demanding in the region of £40m for Bruno in the summer.

Despite the Gunners being long-term admirers of the 24-year-old, a reluctance to sell and the asking price mean the club are more likely to revisit his possible acquisition in the summer.

There will be plenty of competition to battle with at that time, and Arsenal may have already signed someone before then, but he’s another on the list. A bit of a fan favourite, too.

Standalone verdict: Would be a wonderful addition to the midfield. All action.

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4. Ruben Neves – Wolves

Age: 24
Contract expiry: 2024
Rumoured fee: £40m

Remember him? Back in the summer when it wasn’t known what Arsenal’s ambitions were for their midfield, or indeed if Granit Xhaka would be at the club, Ruben Neves’ name was an interesting one to crop up.

One of the Gunners’ long-term targets, Neves was seen as a replacement for Xhaka prior to that bubble being burst far too quickly, and an outstanding season for Wolves has kept Arsenal admiring the deep-lying midfielder.

Across Europe you will struggle to find more adept long-range distribution. Neves’ diagonals, switches of play and general accuracy and range are a joy to behold. He’s neat under pressure, comfortable in a midfield two and has a fine shot on him from anywhere on the pitch.

With Xhaka signing a new contract extension in the previous summer it’s hard to see how the team would look with Neves if the Swiss stayed, as despite the lure of playing for Arsenal, the lure of playing every week will be in the forefront of his mind.

Standalone verdict: As a Xhaka replacement, quite possibly. Has Premier League experience too.

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5. Douglas Luiz – Aston Villa

Age: 23
Contract expiry: 2023
Estimated fee: £20m

If it’s a destroyer that Arsenal are after then it’s understandable that Douglas Luiz has cropped up on their searches. The Aston Villa midfielder is tenacious, aggressive and combative, so to inject some additional physicality in midfield when one or both of Xhaka or Partey aren’t available he fits the bill.

Links have been around fleetingly for a while, with Arteta knowing plenty about the midfielder from their time together at Manchester City. The Spaniard kept monitoring the 23-year-old during his loan spell at Girona too.

This one is a touch more puzzling, however. Given that Villa have had a bid rejected by Brighton for Yves Bissouma it indicates that they feel they can upgrade on Luiz, with a player who, by all accounts, is superior in almost every department.

Both have deals expiring at the end of next season and while Luiz would likely be the cheaper of the two options, Bissouma is the stronger tackler, distributor, intelligent off the ball and has the capacity to be used more dynamically as shown during his playing days in France.

Besides, don’t Arsenal have enough players who dance on the border of a red card every game?

Standalone verdict: There are better options out there.

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6. Arthur – Juventus

Age: 25
Contract expiry: 2025
Rumoured fee: Loan with £25m buy option

It looked almost set in stone that Arsenal would sign Arthur this month. Desperately scrambling for a midfielder to bolster their heavily depleted ranks, Arteta and Edu sounded out someone whose technical ability they’re huge fans of.

A loan deal until the end of the season has edging closer to completion with the player keen on a Premier League switch to boost his chances of being recalled to the Brazil squad, only for a change of terms from Juventus to impact the Gunners’ chances of a deal.

Wanting an 18-month loan instead of a short-term deal threw a spanner in the works, while Villa’s pursuit of fellow Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur on a permanent deal heightens the need for Arthur to stay.

Going on a run of seven Serie A games without getting off the bench, Arthur has since been used in five of Juventus’ last six league outings with Allegri seemingly changing his mind on the 25-year-old. Equally, I Bianconeri’s inability to source a replacement has put the brakes on this move.

A loan would have suited Arsenal so they could then focus on their long-term targets in the summer, and while they haven’t given up hope on Arthur, it grows increasingly unlikely.

Verdict: Could have worked but seemed like an odd choice from the off.

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7. Alexander Isak – Real Sociedad

Age: 22
Contract expiry: 2026
Release clause: £75m

With Vlahovic dead in the water, attentions have turned to the other striker targets at the club, a group that features Alexander Isak. The Swede is also the most expensive player on the entire list.

His release clause at Real Sociedad sits at an eye-watering £75m, and while Arsenal would look to negotiate that fee down, given that the Spanish club are chasing European football this season there is no reason for them to accept any less than the clause sits at. Even in the summer they can command the same fee, so why accept less now?

Arsenal will try though, as they are big fans of the 22-year-old.

You’d be hard pressed to find a centre-forward standing at 6’3″ who has the pace and technical quality of Isak. His control with the ball at feet is superb and his dribbling, either in close quarters or at speed, is mesmeric.

Looking at him it’s impossible not to see the potential. Already a wonderful talent, his physical capacity is huge and the prospect of rekindling his relationship with Martin Odegaard is also enticing.

Isak’s numbers this season have dropped considerably, however, with just eight across 25 outings, but then so too have Sociedad’s chance creation numbers.

Unavoidably, he will cost a lot of money, though.

Standalone verdict: He’s the one. He’s a star. Ignoring money (which you can’t actually do), the question is whether he will he impact Arsenal this season.

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8. Luka Jovic – Real Madrid

Age: 24
Contract expiry: 2025
Rumoured fee: loan

As per James Benge, Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Luka Jovic on loan this month. Having missed out on one Serbian striker, the opportunity is there to sign someone who has scored seven goals in the last three seasons, ten fewer than Vlahovic has hit in 21 league matches this campaign.

Of course, the circumstances have been different.

A magnificent 2018/19 campaign for Eintracht Frankfurt where Jovic hit 27 goals in all competitions had statisticians, and most of Europe, purring. Real Madrid eventually won the race for his signature, forking out a huge €60m total, but his career in the Spanish capital it yet to take off.

Karim Benzema has been in some of the best form of his career since and playing second fiddle to the Frenchman has limited Jovic to impact substitutions. This season he is yet to start in La Liga.

He is now an option for Arsenal, should they wish to take it.

Comparisons will be made to Odegaard who was also courted across Europe, moved to Madrid, didn’t get game time and then left on loan in the winter where his career blossomed, and if Arsenal can do likewise with Jovic it suits their needs ahead of going for their main centre-forward targets in the summer.

Quick, physical and a poacher in the box, if Arsenal can land the 2018/19 Jovic then they’re onto a winner.

Standalone verdict: How long would it take for Jovic to get up to speed in the Premier League? You do wonder. But, as a stop-gap when Arsenal need it, he might not be the worst option, even if he’s not the greatest either.

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9. Dominic Calvert-Lewin – Everton

Age: 24
Contract expiry: 2025
Rumoured fee: £60m

It’s been roughly established that Arsenal want a new version of Lacazette who can drop deep to overload midfield and act as a central pivot, but also someone with predatory instincts in the box who can get on the end of chances.

Those desires have brought them to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who would be keen on moving to north London. Given the lack of hunger to do so from Vlahovic, having a player who actually wants to join the club is one problem out of the way.

Much admired by the coaching staff at Arsenal, Calvert-Lewin is also felt like the right kind of character for the dressing room and someone who would fit in well with the group. With a fee said to be in the region of £60m, it’s also deemed affordable.

Getting him is another matter, though. Everton desperately need his goals in the team as they hover above the relegation zone and ,given how wealthy the club is, there is no rush or need to sell. With such short notice in the January window to sign a replacement it would be a big surprise were they to let him go.

One thing you can say about Calvert-Lewin is that he knows where the goal is. Get the ball in and around the six-yard area (Nketiah?) and chances are that the net will ripple. His form over the past couple of years has improved considerably.

Standalone verdict: Honestly? Don’t see it. Arsenal’s desire for a striker who isn’t built around as few touches as possible makes this link seem odd. He’s a real talent and a growing goalscorer, but is he at the technical level needed for Arsenal? Don’t see it.