Arsenal's January transfer window predicted as four players leave in £43m deals while £79m duo arrive

Arsenal will be looking ahead to the January transfer window as they aim to bolster their squad to help in their Premier League title fight against Liverpool and Chelsea. The Gunners sit third in the league, six points away from Arne Slot’s side, who also have a game in hand. Mikel Arteta’s side are winless in two matches in a row in the league. They drew 0-0 to Everton in their last game at the Emirates.

Several positions could be on the cards for Arsenal to strengthen in the January window including a striker. They have been linked to several top strikers since the start of the season. Three added minutes has simulated the Gunners’ transfer window on Football Manager 2024 to see what the popular game predicts Arteta will do to bolster his squad over the winter.

Departures in January

The simulation produced four departures during the January transfer window. Both Jorginho and Thomas Partey have just six months left on their contracts, so the Gunners cashed in on both to avoid letting them go for free in the summer. Partey was sold to Serie A club Napoli and Jorginho joined Paris Saint-Germain, generating a combined £17m of income. It could be used to fund a move for Sevilla midfielder Lucien Agoume who Arsenal have been linked with as a target to replace the pair.

Following the two departures, the simulation produced a period of inactivity for the Gunners before they sold two more names. Winger Leandro Trossard was sold to Atletico Madrid for £26m. The 30-year-old’s contract at the Emirates is set to expire in June 2026.

Defender Kieran Tierney also left due to the lack of game time that he has been able to find under Mikel Arteta as of late. He moved back to Celtic on a loan deal until the end of the season, a £7m option to buy was also included.

Arsenal signings

Three Arsenal players signed new contracts first of all, with youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly putting pen to paper in a long-term contract. He has featured more for the Gunners this season amid the team’s struggles with injury in defence. Secondly, Takehiro Tomiyasu also signed a new contract which is set to keep him at the club for three more years after a spell of injury kept him out of the team this season. Former Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko also penned a three-year deal helping to reinforce Arteta’s squad depth at the back.

Two new signings were made, with the biggest being Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich who the Gunners haven’t been linked with in real life. It suggested that Arsenal would pay £40m for his signature. The defensive midfielder has been linked to rivals Manchester City according to Sky Sports as they look for a replacement for Rodri.

Finally, Arsenal spent £39m to replace the departed Leandro Trossard as they signed PSV winger Johan Bakayoko. The in-demand winger has scored five goals in 14 league games for the Eredivisie side this season. He could come in at the Emirates to help take some heat off Bukayo Saka.

In somewhat of a surprise, the simulation didn’t have Arsenal signing a striker. They have been linked to the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Dusan Vlahovic and Alexander Isak. However, according to Football Manager, Arteta will not buy a striker in January.