Arsenal battling with Chelsea over £80 million striker as star defender closes in on new contract

The January transfer window is drawing ever closer, as clubs in the Premier League look to find ways to bolster their squads - let’s take a look at what Arsenal have lined up for the 2024 winter window.

The Gunners are reportedly keen on snapping up a highly-rated striker who currently plays in the Premier League - but not only will they have to pay a massive fee, they will also need to fend off competition for bitter rivals Chelsea.

On top of this, a Gunners defender, who rose to prominence after a disappointing start last season, is reportedly ‘in advanced talks’ to sign a new deal with Arsenal.

Arsenal to compete with Chelsea for Ivan Toney’s signature

Arsenal and Chelsea are set to do battle for the signature of Brentford’s Ivan Toney in the January transfer window, says The Standard - but both clubs should be prepared to pay a fee of £80 million to secure his services. In many ways, this transfer saga mirrors the pursuit of Mykhailo Mudryk last January, which resulted in the Ukrainian ultimately signing for the Blues.

Toney is currently serving a ban after a series of betting offences were uncovered - he has not played a competitive game of football since May of this year. As such, paying such an astronomical fee for a player who will need to shake off some cobwebs certainly carries a massive risk.

Additionally, Chelsea and Arsenal are not the only clubs who have been linked with Toney. Teams such as Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Liverpool are also thought to be in the race - but Arsenal and Chelsea are the frontrunners as things stand.

Ben White to sign new contract with the Gunners

Arsenal defender Ben White is on the verge of signing a new ‘and improved’ deal with the Gunners, according to a recent report from Football Insider. His current deal at the Emirates Stadium will keep him at the club until 2026 - his new deal is expected to extend his stay beyond this.

White signed for Arsenal back in 2021 for a fee of £50 million - since then, the former Brighton man has made 80 Premier League appearances for the Gunners, scoring three goals along the way.