Arsenal making ready January transfer for £52m winger who Barcelona have held talks with

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta might be able to open his cheque guide as soon as once more, with the Gunners eyeing a highly-rated winger for January.

Mikel Arteta‘s league leaders, regardless of conceding a dramatic late equaliser away to Sunderland final weekend, are nonetheless the group to beat this season.

Earlier than their journey to the Stadium of Gentle, Arsenal loved a staggering run of eight consecutive clear sheets throughout all competitions — equalling their very own membership report set in 1903. Throughout this historic interval, they went 12 hours and 56 minutes with out conceding a single objective, with Nick Woltemade coming because the final participant to attain in opposition to all of them the best way again in September.

Olympiacos, West Ham, Fulham, Atlético Madrid, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Burnley and Slavia Prague all did not discover a well past Arsenal till Dan Ballard, who as soon as plied his commerce within the Hale Finish academy, and Brian Brobbey lastly ended their unimaginable defensive streak.

Arteta has constructed Arsenal’s rock-solid title problem off their imperious defence and distinctive risk from set items, with the north Londoners bagging 12 from lifeless ball conditions up to now this marketing campaign — greater than every other membership within the prime flight (12).

This additionally comes after Berta gave Arteta his full backing in the summertime switch window,

Arsenal ended final summer season as one among England’s most lavish spenders, investing practically £270 million into the squad and registering the best web spend of any Premier League aspect. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres have been all introduced in to bolster Arsenal’s title problem, and Arteta is hoping to have the latter two again from damage to face Tottenham proper after the worldwide break.

Whereas Eze can play on the left-wing, with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard additionally standing out as key choices, experiences recommend that Berta might look to usher in one other star man for that space of the squad in 2026.

Martinelli and Trossard face unsure long-term futures at Arsenal with each of their offers expiring in 2027, and the membership have been linked with AC Milan’s Rafael Leao as one among many potential targets for the left-wing.

In keeping with the newest experiences from Spain, additionally they keep a severe curiosity in Lyon star Malick Fofana.

Arsenal making ready January transfer for Malick Fofana

The 20-year-old, who scored 11 targets and racked up six assists in all competitions for Lyon final time period, instructions a price ticket of round £52 million with each Liverpool and Barcelona critically contemplating a transfer as properly.

Hansi Flick’s La Liga champions have already held talks together with his representatives forward of January, in response to one Spanish media supply, with it additionally being reported that Arsenal are making ready to battle Barca and Liverpool for Fofana’s signature in January.

Known as a “magnificent” up-and-coming expertise by members of the media, the Belgium worldwide loved a superb begin to this marketing campaign as properly earlier than struggling a latest ankle sprain.

Kevin De Bruyne even in contrast Fofana with star Man Metropolis winger Jeremy Doku, which is excessive reward contemplating the latter’s distinctive kind this season, having simply put Liverpool to the sword in a 3-0 rout at Eastlands.

His tempo and directness is complemented solely by his versatility, which is able to critically attraction to Arteta, with Fofana capable of play on the right-wing and at centre-forward when required.

The previous Gent sensation could be a stellar possibility, however it might absolutely require one among Martinelli or Trossard to go away and unlock house — giving Arteta a key resolution to make given each of the tremendous subs contributions this time period.