Potential Transfer Ins and Outs in the Winter Transfer Window for Arsenal

Arsenal, January transfer exits, winter window, failed targets

January is approaching fast, and all big clubs are busy finalising their shortlists before the transfer window begins. The case is no different for Arsenal. Having spent around £150m in the summer, mostly on defence, Arsenal are looking to sign attackers in the winter transfer window. On the other hand, Mikel Arteta also has some tough decisions to make regarding the potential exits from the Emirates. Here is a list of all the possible transfer ins and outs.

Arsenal, January winter transfer window — Image obtained via Arsenal.com

Loan Transfers

According to reports, young forward Folarin Balogun is most likely to be sent on loan in the January transfer window to gain first-team action. Reports also suggest that he has offers from multiple Championship clubs, such as Middlesbrough, Millwall, and Swansea. Even French club Saint-Etienne have expressed their interest in the 20-year-old striker.

Arsenal confirm Folarin Balogun WILL be sent out on loan in January transfer window to get more first-team action https://t.co/uKSr7Uz2it

— The Sun – Arsenal (@SunArsenal) December 10, 2021

Arteta promoted Balogun to Arsenal’s first-team squad this season. He featured in the first two Premier League games against Brentford and Chelsea, but eventually, the manager moved over to his prefered choices, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

However, Balogun is not the only Arsenal youngster rumoured to be moving out on loan in the winter transfer window. Gunners’ academy starlets Ryan Alebiosu, Tim Akinola, and George Lewis are all believed to be gearing up for loan moves till the end of the season.

Permanent Exits

Two notable names from Arsenal’s first-team squad are on top of the exit list – Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah. The Frenchman prefers a move in the summer rather than now while Nketiah has expressed his desire to leave the North London club in January. The contracts of both the players are up this summer.

Lacazette himself mentioned in an interview with Telefoot that he does not wish to extend his stay at the Emirates beyond this summer, with his agents already looking for new options. According to reports, Arsenal put him on the market at the end of the summer transfer window after failing to reach an agreement for a new deal due to his high salary.

Reports further stated interests from Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, but no formal offers were tabled by any of the clubs. Recently, rumours suggested that the club wants to put forward a short-term contract to the 30-year-old striker, but so far no one has reached out to the player on behalf of the club to offer a new deal.

Arteta confirms he wants Nketiah to stay.

"We are having discussions with him and his agent. His reason [to look elsewhere] is that he wants to play more football."

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) December 10, 2021

On the other hand, Eddie Nketiah has rejected two extension offers from Arsenal and is standing firm on his decision to leave. He wants to look at different options for regular first-team action. The only way Arsenal can earn something from his sale is if they agree to a cut-price deal in the winter transfer window.

New Arrivals

Exits are fine, but the most important aspect of the January transfer window is who all will be added to Arteta’s squad?

Forwards such as Dusan Vlahovic and Alexander Isak and midfielders like Renato Sanches and Isco are all being linked with a move to the Emirates. However, for any new signings to happen, the Gunners need to offload some of their peripheral players first.

According to @sportmediaset, #Arsenal have increased their offer for Dusan Vlahovic to €80m. They want to convince the striker to accept the Gunners' project as early as January. pic.twitter.com/RxWnIMjj7Z

— Gurjit (@GurjitAFC) December 10, 2021

The North London outfit will be interested in signing a forward if they able to offload Lacazette or Nketiah. When Arteta was questioned about the January transfer window, he said:

“We are in discussion. We have talks every week about it, how we can improve the team, and what things can happen in the January transfer window that can effect our squad.”

“As you know, we have certain players with a little bit of uncertainty in the summer so we have to plan what’s going to happen now and what’s going to happen in the summer.”

“A lot has to be done, we know and we don’t expect big things to be happening, but we need to be very alert in the market to see if we can improve the team.”

“We have to be prepared because things can happen and injuries can arise in this period of the season and you have to be prepared and planned.”

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