In our sights: who could Arsenal go for in the January transfer window?

In our sights: who could Arsenal go for in the January transfer window?
Avatar photo Date: 28th November 2022 at 2:50pm
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While international football plays out in Qatar, club football is set to resume in late December with the transfer window coming the following month. With Arsenal flying high at the top of the Premier League, who could Mikel Arteta look to recruit in January?

Cristiano Ronaldo (free agent)

In a move that would have seemed impossible just weeks ago, the Gunners have been sensationally linked with a move for Cristiano Ronaldo in the winter transfer window. The Portugal captain broke records in Qatar by scoring in his fifth World Cup campaign, as his side are among the favourites to go far in the tournament with odds of 11/1 in World Cup bets. It wasn’t an ideal start for the 37-year-old, though, as his comments made to Piers Morgan’s TalkTV caused Man Utd to revoke his contract before he had even kicked a ball.

That means that, despite being one of the favourites in the World Cup Top Goalscorer Odds, Ronaldo currently finds himself as a free agent. It was Morgan himself who initially argued that Arteta should push for the Portuguese, with former Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman also lavishing praise on the forward. If Ronaldo does elect a move to the capital, the next question would be whether Arteta feels the forward would be capable of integrating into his successful project, as we chase a first league title in 20 years.

Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)

This transfer has been brewing for a while. Arsenal have been linked with a move for Youri Tielemans since the summer window, when it appeared that he and other midfielder star James Maddison were destined for life away from the King Power stadium. However, both Tielemans and his England teammate decided to stay under Brendan Rodgers’ management, and while they have continued to impress on an individual level, Leicester have largely disappointed.

Rodgers’ side did take themselves up to 13th before the international break, but given the congested nature of the Premier League bottom half they are only four points off the drop. Tielemans, who is representing Belgium in Qatar, would be available to the Gunners for a fee below the £40m asking price in the summer. Arteta could find himself in an ideal bargaining position, though, given that the player’s contract runs out in June 2023, and he has reportedly expressed an interest in joining Arsenal.

Pepe (FC Porto)

The only player on this list not to feature in Qatar is Porto’s Pepe. Not to be confused with the veteran defender, the 25-year-old plays on the left wing for the Portuguese side. He can consider himself unlucky not to have featured in Tite’s Brazil squad for the World Cup despite his relative inexperience at international level. Pepe has scored three and assisted five goals in 22 matches across all competitions this season and could be eyeing a move to the Premier League this winter.

The Brazilian connection at Arsenal is strong. The club added to an already impressive roster of Canarinha starlets with four-time Premier League winner Gabriel Jesus in the summer, who has since impressed with his five goals and six assists this season. Pepe would therefore feel very much at home at the Emirates and could provide some vital strength in depth going into the second half of the season.

With Arsenal in the driving seat at the top of the Premier League, Arteta will have a plethora of options in terms of winter reinforcements. The Spaniard will have to recruit well if we are to continue our early season form, although our summer signings suggest that the board have a distinct plan in place as we enter the business end of the season.

Photo by Unsplash

 

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