Arsenal had 'keen interest' in prolific £42m-rated Liverpool forward - he could be available this summer

Arsenal didn’t end up signing an attacker in the January transfer window. They opted to stick with what they have got until the summer.

The winter market is always harder to do business in and the Gunners decided not to splash big money on anyone. Mikel Arteta’s side are currently sat in 2nd place in the Premier League table.

They are six points behind Liverpool at the top. The London outfit have played one more game than Arne Slot’s side as well.

Arsenal linked with Diogo Jota

Arsenal had a ‘keen interest’ in Liverpool forward Diogo Jota last summer and he could be ‘available’ for transfer at the end of this season, according to Anfield Watch. Time will tell whether the Gunners end up making a move for him.

Jota, 28, would be a useful option for Arteta if he ended up landing him in the near future. He would provide more quality and competition going forward.

Liverpool snapped him up back in 2020 and he has since turned out to be an inspired signing. The Portugal international, who has 46 caps to his name, has scored 64 goals in 166 games in all competitions since his switch to Merseyside.

He has won the FA Cup twice since his move to Anfield and has also won the Carabao Cup. The Reds are currently looking to pip Arsenal to the title this term.

It would be a surprise to see him sold to a rival. However, letting him go would free up significant funds and space for his current club to bring in a much younger alternative for the future. He is valued at £42million on Transfermarkt.

Jota penned a new long-term deal back in 2022. At the time, he said: "Well, [I'm] really proud, I have to say. Obviously since I arrived two years ago I established myself as an important player in this team - that's what I wanted from the beginning.

"Now, signing a new long-term deal, it's obviously from the club's perspective proof of the belief in myself as a player. For me, obviously it's really good to establish I'll be here for a while."

What now for Arsenal?

Arsenal will be eager to keep their momentum going. They need Liverpool to slip up as well if they are to close the gap.

The Gunners beat Manchester City 5-1 in their last league outing. However, they lost in the Carabao Cup semi-final to Newcastle United last time out.

Speaking after their loss in the North East, Arteta said: “I was very disappointed that we didn't make Wembley and in the manner as well. We had a lot of hope and belief that we could generate momentum in the game to be in the tie.

“In the first half we had two moments where if we would have scored a goal probably things would have been different, but the ball comes the other way and they score the goal and then it gets much harder. We needed a goal in that moment, we didn't get another chance.

“We never got that goal to give us some belief, and generate certain expectations and momentum in the team, and then slowly the game started to get away from us and when we conceded the second goal, it was really, really tough.”