Ten Arsenal deals Edu and Mikel Arteta can complete on January transfer window deadline day
Transfer deadline day has arrived! It’s been an extremely quiet month for Arsenal as Edu and Mikel Arteta are yet to secure a signing but there is still time to do business.
Profit and sustainability rules have made the Gunners cautious about doing much business, although there is an understanding within the club’s hierarchy that reinforcements would certainly benefit the squad. Arteta has highlighted the need to improve squad depth already, especially as his side are in the middle of a Premier League title battle and still in the Champions League.
“At the moment, it is very difficult,” Arteta said in December. “We are really short. We have positions that we have been very exposed for the last six weeks and hopefully we are going to get players back. In what condition and when?
“That’s a question mark and as well because we have some longterm injuries still for certain players that give us a lot of versatility and that’s an issue. We have certain targets, ideas if things happen. As well, we don’t know how the squad is going to look in two weeks’ time and you have to be always prepared for that.
“But it is a very, very tricky market that shifts very quickly and it is quite unpredictable as well – and you have to be prepared. We will be prepared and we will try to make the right calls. If there is something that we can [do to] improve the squad and that needs appear, and we cannot fulfil it with players here, we are always going to be open to do that because we want to be stronger.”
With less than 24 hours of the window left, there could still be a deal or two completed at Emirates Stadium before the 11pm deadline. With that in mind, football.london has listed 10 deals which could happen at Arsenal on deadline day.
READ MORE: Arsenal nearing first January exit as Galatasaray make Cedric Soares transfer decision
READ MORE: Arsenal face Ivan Toney transfer truth amid Jorrel Hato plan and Emile Smith Rowe decision
Cedric Soares – Galatasaray are looking to sign Cedric Soares on a permanent transfer, football.london understands. The Portuguese international has been out of favour at the Emirates Stadium this season, starting just once in all competitions. Galatasaray are understood to be willing to pay a small fee for Cedric whose deal with Arsenal expires at the end of this season. They will also offer him a twoandahalf year contract. The Gunners are unlikely to stand in the way of an exit for the Portuguese international who is on £100,000 per week.
Mohamed Elneny – The 31yearold is out of contract in the summer. Although he has expressed a desire to stay and finish his career with Arsenal extension talks have not yet begun. Clubs in Turkey are tracking the midfielder, football.london understands, but a deal was made complicated due to Elneny’s participation at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt. Egypt were knocked out of the competition by DR Congo on Sunday, however, so a deal could still be done if Arsenal receive a proposal.
Marquinhos – The young Brazilian winger spent the first half on loan with Nantes in Ligue 1. Arsenal recalled the 20yearold earlier this month, however, after he only made seven appearances for the French side. Marquinhos has since joined up with the Brazil Under23 team for the 2024 CONMEBOL PreOlympic Tournament but another loan deal cannot be ruled out for the second half of the season as he is unlikely to feature for Arteta’s side between now and May.
Emile Smith Rowe – The Hale End graduate has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs this window. Any sale would be marked as pure profit by the Gunners so would be beneficial for profit and sustainability rules. However, it’s believed the midfielder will not be allowed to leave the club before deadline day, although you can never say never.
Eddie Nketiah – Another player who is unlikely to leave so late in the window but who has been linked with a move away. Like Smith Rowe, Nketiah would generate pure profit for the Gunners but a sale appears more likely in the summer.
Karim Benzema – Arsenal have been linked with a striker this window with Gabriel Jesus and Nketiah struggling to hit the heights required. Former Real Madrid man Benzema is reportedly unhappy at Saudi Pro League club AlIttihad and is apparently open to the idea of returning to Europe. Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with a loan move for the 36yearold but his huge wages are a stumbling block.
Jorrel Hato – Arsenal are understood to be interested in Ajax teenager Jorrel Hato. The 17yearold, who can play at centreback or leftback, is seen as someone who can strengthen the Gunners defence in the longterm. However, due to PostBrexit immigration rules and Hato’s age, the Gunners will have to likely wait until the summer to strike a deal.
Ivan Toney – The Brentford striker has constantly been linked with a move to Arsenal this month. The 27yearold, who has now returned to action following a ban for breaching betting rules, has been linked with the Gunners and Chelsea. However, Brentford are not open to selling this month as they look to stay in the Premier League. They have slapped a £100million price tag on Toney. Still, if Arsenal get good money for Nketiah and perhaps sell another player, there is still a slim chance a deal can get done. Very slim, however.
Aaron Ramdale – The former Bournemouth and Sheffield United goalkeeper has lost his place to David Raya this season and could leave in the hope of ensuring he goes to Germany as part of England’s Euro 2024 squad. Not looking likely to play many games between now and the end of the season due to Arsenal’s elimination from the FA Cup, Ramsdale has a tough decision to make regarding his future. Chelsea have been keeping tabs on the 25yearold and a shortterm loan deal is not entirely out of the equation.
Lino Sousa – Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign Arsenal prospect Lino Sousa on a permanent deal, football.london understands. The 19yearold defender had previously been involved in firstteam training but was yet to make an appearance for Mikel Arteta’s side. football.london understands that a permanent deal has been agreed between the two sides and a medical is scheduled to take place in the coming hours. Journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed Villa have beaten away strong interest from around Europe for the player after Juventus, Galatasaray and Rangers were also credited with an interest.
Transfer deadline day has arrived! It’s been an extremely quiet month for Arsenal as Edu and Mikel Arteta are yet to secure a signing but there is still time to do business.
Profit and sustainability rules have made the Gunners cautious about doing much business, although there is an understanding within the club’s hierarchy that reinforcements would certainly benefit the squad. Arteta has highlighted the need to improve squad depth already, especially as his side are in the middle of a Premier League title battle and still in the Champions League.
“At the moment, it is very difficult,” Arteta said in December. “We are really short. We have positions that we have been very exposed for the last six weeks and hopefully we are going to get players back. In what condition and when?
“That’s a question mark and as well because we have some longterm injuries still for certain players that give us a lot of versatility and that’s an issue. We have certain targets, ideas if things happen. As well, we don’t know how the squad is going to look in two weeks’ time and you have to be always prepared for that.
“But it is a very, very tricky market that shifts very quickly and it is quite unpredictable as well – and you have to be prepared. We will be prepared and we will try to make the right calls. If there is something that we can [do to] improve the squad and that needs appear, and we cannot fulfil it with players here, we are always going to be open to do that because we want to be stronger.”
With less than 24 hours of the window left, there could still be a deal or two completed at Emirates Stadium before the 11pm deadline. With that in mind, football.london has listed 10 deals which could happen at Arsenal on deadline day.
READ MORE: Arsenal nearing first January exit as Galatasaray make Cedric Soares transfer decision
READ MORE: Arsenal face Ivan Toney transfer truth amid Jorrel Hato plan and Emile Smith Rowe decision
Cedric Soares – Galatasaray are looking to sign Cedric Soares on a permanent transfer, football.london understands. The Portuguese international has been out of favour at the Emirates Stadium this season, starting just once in all competitions. Galatasaray are understood to be willing to pay a small fee for Cedric whose deal with Arsenal expires at the end of this season. They will also offer him a twoandahalf year contract. The Gunners are unlikely to stand in the way of an exit for the Portuguese international who is on £100,000 per week.
Mohamed Elneny – The 31yearold is out of contract in the summer. Although he has expressed a desire to stay and finish his career with Arsenal extension talks have not yet begun. Clubs in Turkey are tracking the midfielder, football.london understands, but a deal was made complicated due to Elneny’s participation at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt. Egypt were knocked out of the competition by DR Congo on Sunday, however, so a deal could still be done if Arsenal receive a proposal.
Marquinhos – The young Brazilian winger spent the first half on loan with Nantes in Ligue 1. Arsenal recalled the 20yearold earlier this month, however, after he only made seven appearances for the French side. Marquinhos has since joined up with the Brazil Under23 team for the 2024 CONMEBOL PreOlympic Tournament but another loan deal cannot be ruled out for the second half of the season as he is unlikely to feature for Arteta’s side between now and May.
Emile Smith Rowe – The Hale End graduate has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs this window. Any sale would be marked as pure profit by the Gunners so would be beneficial for profit and sustainability rules. However, it’s believed the midfielder will not be allowed to leave the club before deadline day, although you can never say never.
Eddie Nketiah – Another player who is unlikely to leave so late in the window but who has been linked with a move away. Like Smith Rowe, Nketiah would generate pure profit for the Gunners but a sale appears more likely in the summer.
Karim Benzema – Arsenal have been linked with a striker this window with Gabriel Jesus and Nketiah struggling to hit the heights required. Former Real Madrid man Benzema is reportedly unhappy at Saudi Pro League club AlIttihad and is apparently open to the idea of returning to Europe. Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with a loan move for the 36yearold but his huge wages are a stumbling block.
Jorrel Hato – Arsenal are understood to be interested in Ajax teenager Jorrel Hato. The 17yearold, who can play at centreback or leftback, is seen as someone who can strengthen the Gunners defence in the longterm. However, due to PostBrexit immigration rules and Hato’s age, the Gunners will have to likely wait until the summer to strike a deal.
Ivan Toney – The Brentford striker has constantly been linked with a move to Arsenal this month. The 27yearold, who has now returned to action following a ban for breaching betting rules, has been linked with the Gunners and Chelsea. However, Brentford are not open to selling this month as they look to stay in the Premier League. They have slapped a £100million price tag on Toney. Still, if Arsenal get good money for Nketiah and perhaps sell another player, there is still a slim chance a deal can get done. Very slim, however.
Aaron Ramdale – The former Bournemouth and Sheffield United goalkeeper has lost his place to David Raya this season and could leave in the hope of ensuring he goes to Germany as part of England’s Euro 2024 squad. Not looking likely to play many games between now and the end of the season due to Arsenal’s elimination from the FA Cup, Ramsdale has a tough decision to make regarding his future. Chelsea have been keeping tabs on the 25yearold and a shortterm loan deal is not entirely out of the equation.
Lino Sousa – Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign Arsenal prospect Lino Sousa on a permanent deal, football.london understands. The 19yearold defender had previously been involved in firstteam training but was yet to make an appearance for Mikel Arteta’s side. football.london understands that a permanent deal has been agreed between the two sides and a medical is scheduled to take place in the coming hours. Journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed Villa have beaten away strong interest from around Europe for the player after Juventus, Galatasaray and Rangers were also credited with an interest.