Arsenal: 4 predictions for January transfer window deadline

What is going to happen in the January transfer window? A spiraling whirlwind of rumours and conjecture comes to a crashing halt for Arsenal on Monday, and it’s all still to play for.

But what is there to play for? As the minutes tick on there are some grey areas for Arsenal yet to be finalised in what has already been a madcap month of activity.

All eyes were on who the club would bring in to complement the midfield options and improve at centre-forward, eyes that remain peeled but could be in line for disappointment.

In terms of what has been completed, Arsenal have all-but secured the signature of Matt Turner from New England Revolution. The deal in place for the American will see him make the move across the pond in the summer, so in many ways he can’t even be classed as a January addition.

Arsenal: 4 predictions for January transfer window deadline with striker, midfielder, Aubameyang and Nketiah all on the agenda

There are no uncertainties over the departures, though, with five already being moved on in some capacity.

Calum Chambers was the latest as he joined Aston Villa, with Sead Kolasinac’s contract termination making him the other permanent exit. Elsewhere three loans apiece were completed for Pablo Mari, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Folarin Balogun.

What about the rest? Four particular areas are what supporters are watching, with the potential for a new midfielder and a new striker to join at the very last minute. Other than those arrivals, it’s the futures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Eddie Nketiah which are up in the air.

And just how those might pan out will vary person-to-person. Let’s get predicting.

1. What Will Happen to Aubameyang?

This is a situation where all parties involved appear to want the same outcome: Arsenal want to move Aubameyang on, Aubameyang wants to play and go somewhere he feels appreciated, and whichever club he goes to wants to acquire a striker of real talent.

Which is why this is a deal that looks as if it’s going to happen.

Interested clubs in Saudi Arabia made the most appealing offers from Arsenal’s perspective, but for personal and professional reasons they did not satisfy Aubameyang. It’s understandable that he feels he has more to offer at the highest level.

Europe then became his likely destination with Juventus and Barcelona making official approaches, both coming to the table with loan offers that would see them shoulder only a portion of his salary.

A breakthrough in negotiations with Barcelona followed, and so long as Ousmane Dembele is moved on this month the club will sign Aubameyang.

All bridges appear burned. Too much water had gone under them beforehand. Not being brought along to Dubai really hammered home the situation, and under Arteta when a player is banished they tend to stay banished. They’ll be desperate for this to come off.

Prediction: Aubameyang joins Barcelona on loan for the remainder of the season.

2. Will Arsenal Sell Eddie Nketiah?

Allowing Aubameyang to leave brings the attention on to Eddie Nketiah, who fairly reliable reports said would be following him out of the door.

It was stated that negotiations had been rumbling on in the background with Newcastle to sign the 22-year-old before the deadline, with Nketiah ready to travel to Tyneside over the weekend to put pen to paper on a deal.

Then, on Saturday, it came to light that Arsenal rejected another bid from Crystal Palace to sign the striker. Doing so means one of three things: the offer wasn’t enough, he’s already agreed to join Newcastle, or Arsenal intend to keep him.

Despite the reports, the latter feels like becoming the outcome.

Pictured over in Dubai with the rest of the squad training, laughing and in good spirits with his manager, while there is no reason he can’t catch a flight straight to Newcastle – or Saudi Arabia, where Newcastle currently are – the whole situation along with a bid from Palace being rejected tends to lean in one direction.

Furthermore, the agreement with Newcastle and subsequent rejected bid from Palace could be a contingency in case Aubameyang doesn’t seal his move away.

Prediction: Eddie Nketiah is staying put.

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3. Will Arsenal Sign a Striker in January?

The Arsenal fanbase went into full blown detective mode over the weekend once Alexander Isak was spotted in London. Shopping at Selfridges and going clubbing out in Soho with his teammate and friend Adnan Januzaj, it was when his car was pictured that everything really took off.

Some people ran his number plate on the registry and saw it recently registered in London, found the street his car was pictured in on Google Maps and discovered it was around the corner from the Emirates, and then deciphered audio from Instagram stories to make out the word ‘Arsenal’.

The lengths people go to. On the one hand it’s commendable, while on the other it’s a little bit creepy.

All of which means he’s coming to Arsenal, right?

While it is a coincidental chain of events, it is still hard to envisage Arsenal dropping £76m on a 22-year-old with four La Liga goals this season having pushed so hard to sign Dusan Vlahovic earlier in the window. From the Gunners’ perspective it could be deemed irresponsible. This is a huge transfer for Arsenal and one they can’t afford to get wrong.

And after him, there is no obvious sign of one of Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Jonathan David arriving mid-season, which brings an end to the options.

(sad) Prediction: Arsenal will not sign a striker this window.

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4. Will Arsenal Sign a Midfielder This January?

Hosting Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with just the solitary central midfielder was farcical. With two away on international duty the numbers were already going to be low, but to then have another suspended and one moved out on loan to leave yourself in that position is inexcusable.

Hence why Arthur was pursued throughout January, until Juventus decided to up their terms to a point where the plug was pulled. There was a desire from all sides to get the move done, with Arthur keen to play Premier League football in order to boost his World Cup hopes, Juve happy to upgrade in that department, and Arsenal simply needing someone with two legs they can put in the centre of the pitch.

With Tottenham signing Arthur’s teammate Rodrigo Bentancur the deal looks even more dead in the water, whether or not I Bianconeri sign Denis Zakaria. The 18-month deal remains the offer, and an unacceptable one.

Who else could Arsenal sign, then? Well, Zakaria was among the names regularly mentioned, while it has also emerged that Aston Villa would be open to offers for Douglas Luiz in these final hours. Luiz is the strongest link at present.

But, if Arsenal can keep Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka fit for the 17 remaining league matches, then whoever they bring in won’t be playing anyway. Arteta clearly wants reinforcements, but instead of rushing into anything the club may bide their time until the summer and pin their hopes on the availability of their vitally important duo.

It’s a risk.

Prediction: Arsenal will not sign a midfielder.