The January transfer window is rapidly approaching, which leads to a huge rise in the number of transfer gossip stories concerning the Gunners in the papers.
Naturally, the vast majority of the Arsenal rumours you’ll read about in the media will not take place and it can be difficult to dig through the outrageous to the optimistic and the ludicrous to the genuinely plausible.
Fortunately, we have Jonathan Kaney to help there and he’s dived into all the tabloid gossip, assessed everything and come up with five players who are the most likely candidates to join Arsenal in the New Year.
That’s not to say these players will definitely join, especially as we can’t see Arsenal making five signings midway through the season, but these are the player’s you should keep your eyes on as they may make their way to the Emirates Stadium shortly!
Hit the navigation buttons to see FIVE likely signings for Arsenal in January!
Alexandr Kokorin
Arsene Wenger has reportedly tracked the 6ft Dynamo Moscow striker since the summer, and with his contract running down, a bid of £7m should be enough to bring him to the club in January.
He’s a relatively unknown prospect to most Gunners fans, but is one the most likely additions to the squad in January after we reportedly failed in a loan attempt to bring him in the summer.
He’s never managed more than ten goals a season in Russia, but as a big powerful number 9 in the mould of Giroud, he could well be a good bit of business for us as a backup player who wouldn’t demand first team football straight away.
Nolito
Another striker likely to arrive is Celta Vigo talisman Nolito who has been at centre of a transfer saga between us and Barcelona for months.
The Spaniard has been superb in La Liga for a long time and his sheer class, tenacity, close control and ability to cut in from the flank, makes him an ideal signing to fill what we are missing in the squad at the moment.
With Barca cooling their interest, and Nolito making a U-turn on his desire to stay in Celta, the road looks to be clear for the Gunners to launch a move and sign him for a very reasonable £13m.
Michy Batshuayi
The Gunners are one of many elite clubs that have been heavily linked with a move for the Belgian hitman who has been the one bright spark in a disappointing start to the season for the French giants.
Batshuayi’s talent is still raw, however with an impressive goal scoring record of 16 goals in 38 games for Marseille and his excellent finishing, height, power, strength and wicked pace, he would be a great signing for the club.
With Marseille’s poor league form, they may well be tempted to cash in on him in January.
Lars Bender
Of all the positions we need to strengthen, defensive midfield is the most important. Even before Coquelin’s injury we were extremely light in the middle of the park and Leverkusen star Lars Bender has been made the odds-on favourite to arrive at the Emirates in January.
The 26-year-old German international would cost somewhere between £15-£20m, but as he is just entering his peak years, the fee would be more than worth it to bring quality into a position we severely need to strengthen.
William Carvalho
The other likely central midfield arrival in January is highly-rated 23-year-old defensive midfielder William Carvalho from Sporting.
The combative Portuguese international looked destined to arrive at the Emirates in the summer until a bad injury ruled him out as one of our targets.
However, after months of injury recovery and speculation that he would sign a new deal at Sporting, he now looks to be on the move to the Emirates again after talks broke down.