Another transfer window is fast approaching, which for Arsenal fans, will most likely involve a long period of speculation and anticipation, before settling for a deadline day move for a squad player on loan. Arsenal’s past few winter transfer windows have been highly unsuccessful, with the last four January windows seeing just one player signed on each occasion; Kim Källström, Nacho Monreal, Thomas Eisfeld and Ryo Miyaichi the four players to join the club in the last four winter windows. With the Gunners currently sixth in the table and having just four first-team defenders fit, reinforcements are needed now more than ever, but with a reported £20million to spend, who can Arsenal bring in during next month’s window?
1. Sami Khedira
Real Madrid’s growing list of midfielders is a huge disappointment and the envy of any football fan who doesn’t support them. The likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez are keeping out arguably one of Real Madrid’s best defensive midfielders in Sami Khedira. Khedira suffered a serious knee injury in November of last year, but was able to play for Germany in the World Cup, missing out on the final due to injury. Having only played four league games this season for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, Khedira is looking to move away from the Champions League winners. A host of Premier League clubs, as well as Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are lining up to sign the 27-year old, who is available on a supposed cut-price of just £10million, or can be bought on a pre-contract to join in June. Despite the competition to secure the player’s signature, Khedira is a player that Arsenal surely can’t afford to miss out on.
Source: realmadrid.com
2. Ron Vlaar
Source: avfc.co.uk
A lot was said about Ron Vlaar during the World Cup in Brazil, with the Aston Villa centre-back putting in some match-saving performances to help his nation reach the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup. Amid all the praise was an extreme amount of transfer speculation, a reunion with Louis van Gaal at Manchester United seemed almost certain at one stage. However, Villa did not have any official bids made to them for their captain, and stayed at the club. Like Khedira, Vlaar is out of contract next summer, and his agent has already spoken of a big move coming in the near future. Available for just £6million in January or for free in the summer, Vlaar could provide a more than adequate backup defender for the Gunners, possibly even pushing for a first-team spot, but will Wenger make his move?
3. Petr Cech
The return of Thibaut Courtois to Chelsea from a three-year stint at Atleti has seen Cech drop to the Chelsea bench. Just one league start for Chelsea this season may have the Czech goalkeeper thinking of his next move, with Liverpool, Monaco and PSG all linked with loan deals in the summer and for the upcoming window. The 32-year old is adamant to stay and fight for the number one jersey again, but with arguably the world’s best goalkeeper to compete with, a move away may be good at sustaining the long-term career of the player. With Arsenal heavily reliant on Wojciech Szczesny, and summer signing David Ospina suffering a number of recurring injuries since his transfer, a move for Cech would be a bold but good move to make in January.
4. Nigel de Jong
Another Dutchman who shone in the World Cup has been linked with a Premier League move. Nigel de Jong hasn’t played against an English team since his move away from Manchester City in 2012, but with his contract with AC Milan expiring this summer, a return to England looks to be on the cards. Arsenal have been left short in defensive midfield on countless occasions in recent years, with Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta currently their only options. With the latter out injured, a player like de Jong is who the Gunners are crying out for. Similarly to Ron Vlaar, Manchester United, who are also having defensive issues, will surely be fighting it out with Arsenal for the midfielder.
5. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Whilst Arsenal’s defensive problems are expected to be top of the agenda in the January window, the Gunners still lack a certain firepower in the forward role. Alexis Sanchez has scored a lot of Arsenal’s goals this season so far, with the winger scoring 14 goals in his four-month spell at the club. However, with Olivier Giroud missing three months through injury, it was up to Danny Welbeck and Yaya Sanogo to play as the front men. Sanogo has managed just one goal in an Arsenal shirt, discounting his four against Benfica in the Emirates Cup, whilst Welbeck has just three Premier League goals for the club. Could an long-term transfer link be the answer to the increasing concerning over-reliability on Alexis Sanchez? Huntelaar has been linked with the Gunners for the past three seasons, with the club failing to act upon a £12.75million release clause. Huntelaar joins a long list of top players who are available on a free transfer in June, and his track record proves that he is a top goalscorer. Will Wenger move for the striker that the side crave?
6. Luiz Gustavo
Finally, a player that could actually cost Arsenal some money. Luiz Gustavo was the subject of a £17million bid from the Gunners in 2013, before snubbing the club to move to VfL Wolfsburg, claiming that a willingness to push for Luis Felipe Scolari’s World Cup squad was one of the reasons behind staying in Germany. His wish came true, and he had an impressive World Cup with Brazil. That hasn’t dissuaded the North London club from going back, being linked yet again in the summer, where Gustavo once again shot down all rumours. Easily the most expensive player that Arsenal could be targeting in January, but should they get him, would be prove to be the most valuable?
All that is certain for Arsenal fans is that a defender will be coming into the club, should you choose to believe the words of Arsene Wenger. The question still stands: will it be a window full of success or abject failure from the Gunners?
Tyron McGee
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