Arsenal Transfer News Today: Mbeumo CONFIRMATION, Lee TRUTH, Isak ADMISSION

Tom Weber

Updated: 8 Jan 2025 09:34 CST
5 min read

Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Brentford, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Arsenal suffered a chastening defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday, highlighting the Gunners' need for a more clinical edge in front of goal.

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Mikel Arteta has already spoken about a willingness to pounce on potential transfer opportunities this month and it is becoming increasingly clear that the Spaniard will have to put his money where his mouth is unless Arsenal want to risk finishing the season empty-handed.

Unsurprisingly, transfer links with high-profile attackers continue to abound.

Exclusive: Vlahovic chance

FootballTransfers understands that Juventus are willing to cash in on striker Dusan Vlahovic this year for a fee in the region of just €55 million, a significant reduction from their original outlay of €83.5m in January 2022.

The Serbian striker is out of contract in 2026 and talks over a new deal have proved difficult for the best part of a year now. Juventus want to either extend his stay to be able to amortise his significant earnings over a longer period or just get rid of him altogether.

Arsenal have a historic interest in the 24-year-old and were vying for his signature before he elected to head to Turin. Arteta has never lost sight of Vlahovic, although he has slipped down the Gunners' shortlist of options due to his hit-and-miss form.

However, his availability could be just such a January opportunity Arteta referred to.

Exclusive: Trossard talks collapse

FootballTransfers can also reveal that Arsenal's contract negotiations with winger Leandro Trossard have broken down. Arsenal proposed a one-year extension with the option of an additional year, falling in line with the club’s typical policy on players who are over 30 years old.

However, this was immediately knocked back, leaving both parties unhappy and the Belgium international's future in doubt. It is no secret that Trossard has admirers elsewhere and that he hasn't always been entirely content with his role in Arteta's squad.

Discussions over Trossard’s deal have been paused for now due to Arsenal's busy schedule and the January transfer window, with talks expected to resume at the end of the season. Given his current form and the impasse in negotiations, there’s a strong chance that he might be sold.

Trossard’s current contract runs until 2026.

Mbeumo interest confirmed

Arsenal have been linked with exciting Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo since last season and are known to have enquired about him late in the summer window.

The Bees' star man is once more enjoying a brilliant campaign, having so far scored an impressive 13 goals in 20 Premier League outings, and Sky Germany confirms that he remains on the Gunners' radar.

Fabrizio Romano has admitted that it would take a 'crazy' proposal to temp Brentford into a January sale, but a summer move could be more likely due to his contract expiring in 2026.

Lee transfer unlikely

On Tuesday, The Athletic revealed that versatile PSG attacking midfielder Lee Kang-in is ready for a new challenge and suggested Arsenal as one of his potential suitors.

However, the outlet acknowledged that PSG would demand at least double their original €22m outlay and that they were in any case extremely reluctant to sell.

Fabrizio Romano has now echoed that Lee is not for sale despite interest from Arsenal and another Premier League club.

Arteta makes Isak admission

Manager Mikel Arteta confessed after Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Newcastle that there was a significant difference in the two sides' finishing, which ultimately cost Arsenal big time.

It was a tacit admission that Arsenal probably lack the firepower to go all the way over the course of a Premier League season and to consistently challenge for silverware.

Of course, this comes at a time when Arsenal are being heavily linked with a move for a top-class No.9 and it was fitting that it was Alexander Isak who scored the opener.

The Swede is, by all accounts, one of Arteta's favourite strikers and the Spaniard acknowledged his 'real quality' after the match. "He was involved in both goals, unfortunately, the two times that he had the ball in the box and that’s what you have when you have real quality up front."

Before the game, Arteta also referred to him as a 'top player.' However, at this point, a move for the 25-year-old is still unlikely quite simply due to his price.

The player is not agitating for a transfer and Newcastle, naturally, don't want to sell, having reportedly slapped a Premier League-record €180 million price tag on his head.