HITC Sport takes a look at the good, the bad and the ugly transfer rumours and speculation surrounding Arsenal this January.
With the January transfer window now open, Arsenal have unsurprisingly been linked with a number of moves already.
As the club battle to stay in the Premier League title hunt, many Arsenal fans are hoping that Arsene Wenger will look to strengthen his side, and splash the cash which he has often failed to do at this time of year in the past.
With this in mind, we’ve decided to take a look at some of the realistic, speculative and ridiculous names being linked with a move to the Emirates this month.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
The Realistic
Often blighted by injuries, much of the expected recruitment for Arsenal this January could come in the form of replacement buys. With players such as Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott and Hector Bellerin seemingly constantly picking up knocks and blows, Arsenal could well move to bring in some extra bodies to cover these players. After being linked with a move for Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic by the Telegraph, as well as being linked with rivalling Chelsea for the signature of full-back Ricardo Rodriguez by the Bleacher Report, it’s not too hard to believe that Arsenal may well be looking to strengthen in the areas in which they often suffer crucial injuries.
Arsenal are also expected to complete the signing of Hednesford defender Cohen Bramall in the next 48 hours, according to Sky Sports. Hednesford, who play in the seventh-tier Evo-Stik Northern Premier League, are expected to receive around £40,000 for the 20-year-old, as the young defender steps in to cover the injury prone Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs.
Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla
The Speculative
If there’s one thing that would of been on Arsenal fans’ Christmas lists this year, it would be a world class striker. For years, the forward line has been the one area of Arsene Wenger’s team which has needed so obviously strengthening, as the Gunners inconsistent Oliver Giroud continues to be just that. After adding Lucas Perez in the summer, some Arsenal fans hoped their striking worries could be coming to an end, but after a slow start, the Gunners have been forced to play Alexis Sanchez, who’s naturally a winger, up top.
With french forward Antoine Griezmann’s future being cast into doubt in Spain, some are wondering whether now might be the perfect time for Arsene Wenger to once again spend big on one player, and bring the tiny magician to the Emirates. After a report in the Mirror linking the Gunners with a move for Griezmann, as well as German winger Marco Reus, this could well be the month that Wenger finally brings in the attacking class the club has lacked in recent years.
Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann in action
The Ridiculous
If there’s one thing Arsenal don’t need more of, it’s attacking midfielders. Seemingly Arsene Wenger’s favourite position to buy in recent years, the Gunners currently have a surplus of forward thinking midfield players including Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and (the currently out on-loan) Jack Wilshere. And yet, Arsenal are still being linked with them!? In a recent report by metro.co.uk, the Gunners have been linked with a move for Porto’s £51 million rated attacking midfielder, Yacine Brahimi, a player similar to in playing style to Alexis Sanchez.
With the mouth-watering price tag, and the fact that Arsenal already have plenty of numbers in this position, it seems highly unlikely that the Gunners would move for the Algeria international. However, it is Arsenal, and they’re nothing if not unpredictable.
FC Porto’s Yacine Brahimi
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
