After two damaging defeats in the Premier League Arsenal may welcome a change of focus this weekend as they prepare to host Liverpool in the FA Cup.
After ending 2023 with the loss away to Fulham, Mikel Arteta's men are suddenly up against it in the title race. And that's prompted plenty of speculation that the club will be strengthening their squad in January.
Indeed, the club have been linked with a host of transfer targets, most notably Brentford striker Ivan Toney. But there won't be any business done by the time they kick-off against the Reds, with the game scheduled for 4.30pm on Sunday afternoon.
Brentford decision offers transfer hint to Arsenal
Brentford appear resigned to losing Ivan Toney with the club yet to even engage in new contract talks amid interest in the player from Arsenal.
The Daily Mail reports the two parties have not come to the negotiation table, leading to conclusions that Brentford have accepted a likely summer departure. The Gunners are among those linked with a mega-money move for the forward.
But Arsenal, who are also facing potential competition from London rivals Chelsea, will have to pay big money if they want to land Toney. Figures around £100million have been quoted for the striker, who was among the top scorers in the Premier League last season.
Tierney's emphatic response over return
Kieran Tierney has made clear that he will not be cutting short his loan spell at Real Sociedad to return to Arsenal in January.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has struggled at left-back in recent weeks, while Takehiro Tomiyasu has been unavailable due to injury and since jetted off for the Asia Cup with Japan. As a result, Mikel Arteta's men are looking notably light at left-back, sparking suggestions Tierney could be recalled to help out.
Tierney has since quashed the rumours, claiming: "Several people have already asked me if I was going to return to Arsenal now and the answer is no. I'm going to stay here for sure. As for staying here longer, the decision is not mine."
Hato has made feelings clear
Jorrel Hato has already admitted it would be a "dream" to follow in the footsteps of his ex-Ajax team-mate Jurrien Timber after his summer switch to Arsenal.
According to The Telegraph, Arteta has identified the 17-year-old as a target just months after raiding Ajax for Timber, who unfortunately suffered a season-ending ACL injury on his Premier League debut. And now previous comments have emerged that will only serve to encourage the Spaniard.
Speaking earlier this season, Hato talked about Timber's move to Arsenal to ELF Voetbal, sayinh: “Unfortunately he was seriously injured in his first Premier League game for Arsenal, but he is still young and has a bright future ahead of him. In any case, the move to Arsenal was a wonderful one for him. It is also my dream to one day make such a transfer, but I realise that I still have a very long way to go.”