Insider David Ornstein has claimed on his Ask Ornstein show that he doesn’t see Arsenal signing a new playmaker in the January transfer window.
The Gunners managed to bring in a big-money midfielder on deadline day last month, as Thomas Partey arrived from Atletico Madrid.
Partey has impressed, particularly with a superb display against Manchester United, but there’s only so much he can do – and Arsenal clearly lack creativity right now.
Mesut Ozil has been exiled from the squad, and Arsenal currently don’t have a player who can fill the void with creativity going forward.
Fans want to see a new playmaker brought in during the January window, with Lyon’s Houssem Aouar and Red Bull Salzburg’s Dominik Szoboslzai two popular names.
Sport Bild report that Arsenal fancy RB Leipzig ace Christopher Nkunku, so there are many links emerging – but Ornstein’s comments may be a concern.
Ornstein claims that whilst the Aouar interest isn’t likely to disappear any time soon, he doesn’t see an attacking midfield player arriving in January.
Instead, Ornstein states that Arsenal are ‘well ahead’ with talks for new signings next summer, seemingly lining up new additions once big earners have been moved on.
“I’m not sure about an attacking midfielder coming into Arsenal in the January window,” said Ornstein. “What I am hearing is that Arsenal are well ahead in their planning for the window of summer 2021, and talks are taking place about potential recruits. “
“That summer, of course, is when the likes of Mesut Ozil, Sokratis, Mustafi and David Luiz are out of contract, and the sense I get is that they would be looking – understandably – to bring in a creative attacking midfielder in that number 10 role, but perhaps who could also operate towards the right as well. They pursued the signing of Houssem Aouar of Lyon, so I don’t imagine that interest would necessarily go away,” he added.
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