Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has identified the one position he hopes to target in the January transfer window and picked eight names as his ideal signings.
After 19 matches, Premier League clubs are now able to strengthen their squads for the second half of the season as the January transfer window has opened.
Several clubs across the top English division are expected to be active in the market, including Arsenal as they hope to challenge League leaders Liverpool for the title.
And now, it has been revealed that in preparation for the window opening, Arteta decided which position he wanted to target in January, and even wrote a eight-man list of his ideal transfers in the window.
According to The Daily Mail, Arteta is prioritising signing a new attacker in the January window to try and lessen the blow of losing star winger Bukayo Saka, who is facing months on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury.
Top of the Spanish manager’s list is talented winger Nico Williams, who has attracted interest from across some of the biggest clubs in Europe and is reportedly a long-term target for the Gunners.
With a release clause that is believed to be around £50million, a deal is certainly within Arsenal’s budget, but they may struggle to convince the 22-year-old to leave Athletic Bilbao mid-season and will face competition from other clubs for the Spaniard’s signature.
Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane, who has recently been linked with a move away from the German giants, is also included in Arteta’s shortlist, but due to him being 28 years old, the winger would not be seen as a long-term investment.
Young Real Madrid superstar Arda Guler is said to have several admirers at the Emirates, but the La Liga champions reportedly see the 19-year-old as a key part of their future and therefore are unlikely to be willing to sell him.
Having enjoyed a breakout year for both Beyer Leverkusen and Germany, Florian Wirtz will almost certainly be pursued by Arsenal once he decides he wants to leave his current club.
However, when the 23-year-old does decide to move, he will reportedly have his pick of several of the top clubs in Europe, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City.
The report also claims that, as well as wide forward to fill in for Saka, Arsenal are also considering signing a new striker, a position that they are often criticised for being too weak in.
In-form Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak tops the last of targets up front, alongside Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo
However, Arsenal’s chances of signing any of these strikers in the January transfer window are believed to be slim, with a move in the summer much more likely.