Arsenal transfer latest: Three players Mikel Arteta could sign for Arsenal in January - and two he probably won’t
Arsenal have a golden opportunity to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window
Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal jumped into top spot for the first time this season after a routine 2-0 victory over West Ham, which saw former Hammers captain Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka both get on the scoresheet.
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The London derby win helped silence Mikel Arteta’s critics about his conservative team selection and now has many Arsenal fans dreaming of a first league title since the invincible season of 2003/04.
Arsenal have overcome a five point deficit at this early stage to get themselves to the summit but they know that there’s still lots of work to be done after they are to finish the season in top spot after a series of near misses in recent campaigns.
The Gunners have 12 league matches to play in 2025 before the January transfer window opens, and that could potentially prove a pivotal moment in the season as Arteta looks to add the quality required to get his team over the line. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up all of the main transfer stories surrounding Arsenal and distinguished between those who are likely to be targeted - and those we simply can’t see the Gunners moving for at this stage.
Three Arsenal-linked targets that make perfect sense at this stage
Kenan Yildiz: Arsenal are certainly not short of attacking options on paper after adding both Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze to their attacking options but that’s done nothing to silence numerous reports linking them with a move for Kenan Yildiz. The Juventus man has mainly played left-wing but like Eze can be used as a central attacking midfielder as well. It’s one which could cost a lot of money given the 20-year-old’s potential and role in the Juventus team but the likelihood could be increased by Martin Odegaard’s recent injury blow.
Oihan Sanchet: According to recent reports from Spain, Arsenal are interested in enticing Athletic Club playmaker Oihan Sanchet to the capital. The 25-year-old, who played against them in the Champions League earlier this term, scored 15 in 29 La Liga games last term and is natural No.10 with excellent creative instincts. This could be one to watch again given Odegaard’s setback.
Jorthy Mokio: Arsenal are one of a number of top Premier League clubs to be linked with Ajax wonderkid Jorthy Mokio. The Belgian can play both as a central defender and as a holding midfielder and has already won his first international call-up. He’s one for the future but definitely looks to be a player with a high ceiling.
Two players Arsenal are unlikely to sign in January
Frenkie de Jong: Barcelona superstar Frenkie de Jong is unlikely to swap life at the Nou Camp for a move to the capital. It has been claimed that Arteta was an admirer of the Netherlands international but it now looks increasingly likely that he’ll extend his contract with the Spanish champions.
Rodrygo : Over the summer, Arsenal and Liverpool were linked with Real Madrid playmaker Rodrygo. He’s fallen down the pecking order slightly in recent months but has rubbished claims of a potential exit. He told AS: “Every summer, the same thing happens to me. Whether I’m going to leave or whether I have offers from this club or that.
“Every week, I was in a team if I paid attention to what was published. Of course, there are always offers; I’m not going to lie about that. But I always made it clear to the club that I want to continue succeeding here, even more than I already have.”