10 players who could join Arsenal in January

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 5 min read

Arsenal are top of the Premier League, five points clear of Manchester City, but they might have to go shopping in the January transfer window if they plan to stay there…

There is real optimism around Arsenal that the Gunners are onto a good thing under Mikel Arteta, and they have made a blistering start to the campaign to sit five points clear of champions City heading into the winter break.

Summer signings from City like Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko have been constituent parts of the Gunners' success, but if they are to secure a first league title since 2004, some more strength in depth might be required.

READ: Mudryk transfer puts FIVE Arsenal stars under threat

Football Transfers looks at 10 players who could be calling the Emirates home by the end of the winter transfer window…

Mykhailo Mudryk

Mykhailo Mudryk has been Arsenal's top transfer target for some time now, and the winger, nicknamed the "Ukrainian Neymar" nearly moved to North London in the summer. The deal fell through then, but Mudryk has since racked up 18 goal-involvements from 18 games with Shakhtar Donetsk - including five from six in the Champions League - and he still wants the move. The only thing left to resolve is his transfer fee.

Youri Tielemans

Another top target, and perhaps the next most likely to make the move, Youri Tielemans is out of contract with Leicester in the summer and could be available for a knockdown price in January. Arsenal are keen to have more depth in central midfield with Thomas Partey's injury record rather than his performances sometimes letting him down.

Danilo

Another player who could anchor Arsenal's midfield is Brazilian youngster Danilo, who currently plays for Palmeiras, where he is a teammate of in-demand wonderkid Endrick. Danilo, 21, has already generated significant excitement of his own though, and the Gunners hope to have unearthed another Gilberto Silva having failed to sign his compatriot Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa in the summer.

READ: Who is Danilo? The Palmeiras midfielder that Arsenal are desperate to sign

Carlos Soler

Carlos Soler is another midfielder to have been linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, with PSG willing to make a quick profit on the Spaniard they paid Valencia just €18 million for in the summer. Mikel Arteta reportedly rates him as the next Santi Cazorla, something the player himself has shied away from.

Ismael Bennacer

Yet another midfielder, and one of the battling variety, Ismael Bennacer has 18 months left on his AC Milan deal and Arsenal hope they could re-sign the player they had between 2015 and 2017 for less than the €27.5m he is rated by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm. Reports that Partey could be thrown in in part-exchange would appear to be wide of the mark, though.

Dusan Vlahovic

Dusan Vlahovic spurned Arsenal to sign for Juventus last January, but since then the Italian club have been plunged into legal and financial trouble amid accusations of false accounting at the height of the coronavirus pandemic while Arsenal have raced to the top of the Premier League. With Jesus injured, a striker is needed, and Vlahovic looks newly available

Christian Pulisic

Christian Pulisic has also been linked with a move across London, and could be a viable alternative if Shakhtar dig their heels in over Mudryk's asking price. Pulisic has impressed with the USA in Qatar but has struggled to convince consecutive Chelsea managers in Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter. Aaron Ramsdale's understudy Matt Turner is the USMNT's No.1, and could get in Pulisic's ear this winter.

Pepe

No, not that one. With Nicolas Pepe back in France on loan with Nice, Arsenal have a gap in the wide attacking areas behind Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. It is one Porto's versatile Brazilian Pepe could fill. Also able to deputise at left-back, so would provide welcome cover should Kieran Tierney decide to leave.

Fares Chaibi

Fares Chaibi is a player who fits Arsenal modus operandi of old, a diminutive, 20-year-old, French, final third operator who is still plying his trade in France. The youngster would cost significantly less than Mudryk or Pulisic, and two goals and four assists for promoted Toulouse suggest he might be worth the punt.

Ibrahima Bamba

Ibrahima Bamba is a defensive midfielder who has burst onto the scene with Vitoria Guimaraes this season having joined the Portuguese outfit from Pro Vercelli as a teenager. Still just 20, Bamba was called up to train with the Italian national team in May, but remains eligible for the Ivory Coast. Another budget option Arsenal hope to be ahead of the curve with.