The January transfer window is open – and Arsenal could well be busy before the month is out.
The Gunners are tempted to bolster their squad in the mid-season window after confirming that star player Bukayo Saka will be out for around two months with a torn hamstring. Asked if he would turn to the transfer window, Mikel Arteta replied: "We don't know. We will see, hopefully we don't see any more injuries."
The truth is that Arsenal might well have used the transfer window regardless of Saka’s injury, with Arteta feeling that reinforcements could make all the difference in the second half of the season. Another forward is a distinct possibility, especially with Marquinhos heading for the exit.
Arsenal confirmed on Wednesday that 20-year-old defender Josh Robinson had left for Wigan on a permanent deal, signing a three-and-a-half year contract. With the first deal of the month done, here are the latest headlines from the world of Arsenal transfers from Mirror Football.
Arsenal want a forward this month and have eight players on their shortlist. Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is in brilliant form at present and remains of interest to Arteta, although signing him in January looks almost impossible, with the Magpies valuing him at £150million.
Wolves star Matheus Cunha and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo are two more on their shortlist, while Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane is another name in the frame, along with Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig.
Arsenal tried to tempt Nico Williams to join from Athletic Bilbao in the summer and could return for him this month, while Arda Guler and Florian Wirtz both have admirers in north London.
Arsenal would consider cancelling the loan of back-up goalkeeper Neto, rather than Raheem Sterling, if they needed to bring in another loanee. Neto is on loan from Bournemouth and the Gunners currently have their full quota of domestic loan players with the duo.
Sterling has been very disappointing since joining the Gunners from Chelsea, but Arteta wants to keep the winger around until the end of the season anyway. He worked with him at Manchester City and is sure he can contribute.
"I would like to see him more to be fair and this is down to me. He's trying his best,” he said recently “His application and commitment around the team has been exceptional and now it's time for me to give him more minutes.”
Omar Marmoush, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, has revealed that he is not currently thinking about a transfer. The Eintracht Frankfurt star has enjoyed an impressive season thus far and the Egypt international has scored 13 goals and provided seven assists in 15 matches in the Bundesliga.
"What I can promise the fans is that I will give my all for Eintracht in every game,” Marmoush told TZ. “I am not thinking about a transfer. I am living in the here and now and enjoying my time in Frankfurt.”