Five players who could join Arsenal in January

Tom Weber

• Updated: 3 Dec 2024 08:47 CST
• 5 min read

Arsenal have several areas of the squad that need to be bolstered.

Mikel Arteta and former sporting director Edu failed to adequately reinforce Arsenal's wide options in the summer. Despite signing Raheem Sterling on loan, Arsenal are still lacking proper cover for Bukayo Saka.

Moreover, Arsenal did not manage to sign a defensive midfielder as they had initially intended to, instead settling on Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad, who at 28 years of age was a somewhat unusual transfer. A striker also did not arrive after Benjamin Sesko snubbed the Gunners.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer news

Finally, the goalkeeper position gave the club headaches until Deadline Day. With Aaron Ramsdale having departed for Southampton, a new No.2 had to be signed but Arsenal failed to land top target Joan Garcia. They ultimately had to settle for 35-year-old Neto, who joined on loan from Bournemouth and is not a long-term option.

Despite all of the above, it will likely be a quiet January window for the Gunners as it would take some financial effort to lure their top targets away from their respective clubs mid-season. Still, there could be some movement in north London.

Below, FootballTransfers looks at five players Arsenal could sign in January...

Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)

It is no secret that Mikel Arteta loves his fellow Basque Martin Zubimendi. The Real Sociedad star has been on Arsenal's radar for years and the Gunners previously tried their luck.

The problem they - and Liverpool - have faced, however, is that Zubimendi has as yet shown no desire to leave his boyhood club. The hardest part of any potential deal is convincing the midfielder to make the move.

Zubimendi's €60 million release clause would make a transfer relatively straightforward, but the love for his Real has meant that no club has been able to lure him away. Could Arsenal finally manage it in January?

READ MORE: Arsenal top scorers 2024/25: Who is leading the club's goal rankings?

Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)

Arsenal are one of many clubs keeping tabs on Jamie Gittens' development at Borussia Dortmund. The Englishman is belatedly enjoying a real breakout season and this is making him increasingly attractive.

The winger has for years been tipped for greatness but it has only really clicked for him this term in large part also because he has been relatively injury-free.

Dortmund know that they have a potential gem on their hands and will play hardball over his future, with some suggesting that they could demand as much as €100m for him. Arsenal won't cough up that much in January, but perhaps they can negotiate a cheaper deal.

Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)

Similarly, Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo could be difficult to get due to his price. However, the Brentford star is known to have admirers at Arsenal and could be ready to take the next step in his career.

Mbeumo has been irresistible for the Bees and would be exactly the kind of Bukayo Saka cover Arsenal need. Whether he is willing to play second fiddle is a different question, of course.

Brentford coach Thomas Frank has himself admitted that he would try to sign Mbeumo if he were in charge of a big club, so he is braced for January interest in his star forward.

Liam Delap (Ipswich Town)

Arsenal, like every major Premier League club, have been credited with an interest in Ipswich Town hotshot Liam Delap. The former Man City prospect has impressed in his first Premier League season and could already be on the move again in 2025.

A winter move could be difficult to pull off, however. For one, Man City are thought to have matching rights and a buy-back clause, putting them in an advantageous position.

Additionally, of course, Ipswich will be unwilling to sell their star forward in the midst of a relegation battle and will try to block a move. However, if the player were to agitate for a move, it could be a different story.

He is definitely one to watch and a more realistic target than Viktor Gyokeres who has already ruled out a January exit from Sporting CP.

Randal Kolo Muani (PSG)

The most attainable striker in January will undoubtedly be PSG outcast Randal Kolo Muani. Signed for €95 million in 2023, the Frenchman has struggled to find his feet in his hometown.

The Ligue 1 champions are willing to loan him out in January and the player has warmed to the idea of leaving after being left to rot on the bench by Luis Enrique.

Despite floundering at PSG, Kolo Muani still has admirers in the Premier League for his exploits with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga and Arsenal are among the sides linked with him.

Kolo Muani is still a regular for France despite his disappointing stint at PSG, so there is clearly a lot of potential to work with. Arteta showed with Kai Havertz that instilling confidence in a misfiring attacker can go a long way.