Arsenal Transfer News Today: Gyokeres TRUTH, Sesko SAGA, Isak THREAT, Chelsea INTEREST

Tom Weber

Updated: 20 Jan 2025 19:01 GMT
5 min read

Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, Arsenal — © IMAGO

The final days of the January transfer window will be dominated by Arsenal links with centre-forwards.

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The season-ending injury to Gabriel Jesus has convinced Mikel Arteta that he needs to take action and Arsenal have been busy enquiring about potential options over the past week or so.

The problem the Gunners face, of course, is that their top targets are not available mid-season, so they might have to get creative to find a useful solution.

Exclusive: Arsenal not favourites for Gyokeres or Isak

Arsenal have been heavily linked with Swedish striker duo Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, but neither appears to be on his way to north London as things stand.

In early December, FootballTransfers revealed that Newcastle were actually the club pushing hardest for Gyokeres and we can now report that the Magpies have held fresh talks over the 26-year-old.

The interest is driven by concerns over Alexander Isak's future, but not due to Arsenal's well-established interest in the Magpies sharpshooter. Rather, Liverpool are the ones who are best placed to sign Isak in the future.

Sesko saga in the summer

Benjamin Sesko remains Arsenal's priority striker target, but the RB Leipzig wonderkid is not available in January. According to Ben Jacobs, Sesko will be a 'saga' for the summer window.

More realistic options this month are Botafogo's Igor Jesus and Brighton's Evan Ferguson, both of whom have appeared on the Gunners' radar. However, a move for the latter could also prove difficult, with the Seagulls yet to decide whether or not to allow him to leave.

Any transfer of the Ireland international would be a loan with a purchase obligation, which would require Arsenal to either make Neto's loan from Bournemouth permanent or to send him back because Raheem Sterling's temporary deal does not contain a break clause.

Chelsea eye Tavares

According to Alfredo Pedulla, Chelsea have taken an interest in Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares amid uncertainty over the future of Renato Veiga. The latter has expressed a desire to leave Stamford Bridge this month and has been in talks with several clubs.

Tavares, meanwhile, has starred for Lazio out on loan and this has piqued the interest of the Blues as well as other Serie A sides. Lazio have a purchase option for the Portuguese.

At Arsenal, Tavares failed to have much of an impact and he also did not manage to leave lasting impressions during loan spells at Marseille and Nottingham Forest.

Williams not moving in January

Nico Williams remains on Arsenal's radar, but no move will materialise in the winter, according to David Ornstein. The Athletic Club winger has shown no desire to leave his boyhood club mid-season.

The Spain international has a €58 million release clause and is on a hefty wage, which has so far proved prohibitive to a transfer, but it is expected that he will field interest again in the summer.

Chelsea and Barcelona have also been linked with the 22-year-old.

Arsenal to move for Diaz?

One potential January reinforcement could be Real Madrid attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz, claims TBR Football. Despite his obvious talent, the Moroccan has always struggled for minutes and could finally leave for good this month.

Diaz previously impressed during a multi-year loan at AC Milan but the wealth of options at the disposal of Carlo Ancelotti means that game time has been hard to come by for the 25-year-old.

Mikel Arteta worked with Diaz during his time as an assistant at Man City.

Read more about: Premier League Arsenal Alexander Isak Benjamin Sesko Brahim Diaz Evan Ferguson Igor Jesus Nico Williams Nuno Tavares Viktor Gyökeres