The vast majority of the Premier League has remained fairly quiet this January transfer window, with most clubs seemingly preferring not to do their transfer business mid-season.
That is with the exception of Arsenal, of course, who have already signed Krystian Bielik this month and are now hours away from officially announcing their acquisition of Villarreal centre-back Gabriel Paulista, who was granted a work permit yesterday.
There’s still six days of the window remaining however, which is plenty of time to get some business done in the world of football, so we could see some further movement from the north Londoners within the next week.
With that in mind, here’s FIVE targets known to be on the Emirates radar that Arsenal could wrap up deals for ahead of February 2nd.
KEVIN GROSSKREUTZ
//www.youtube.com/embed/yRGVGsI9r44
Age: 26
Height: 6 foot 1
Position: Right Back turned Utility Man
Teams: Rot Weiss Ahlen, Borussia Dortmund, Germany
Honours: Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, DFB Pokal 2012, Champions League finalist 2013, World Cup 2014
Interested clubs: Arsenal and Manchester United, according to The Express
Likely transfer fee: £3.7million, according to The Express once again.
In addition to signing Gabriel Paulista, Arsene Wenger intends on giving Arsenal’s backline another boost with the acquisition of Borussia Dortmund’s Kevin Grosskreutz, according to The Express.
The 26 year-old is famed for his unique versatility and, as parodied in the video above, has featured in every position for the Black Yellows, including goalkeeper and centre-forward, since his Westfalen debut in 2009.
He’s put in some decent Champions League performances over the years too, particularly amid Dortmund’s march to the tournament’s final in 2013, and this year he’s averaged an incredible 3.8 tackles and 2.3 chances created per match in Europe.
The German international is a boyhood Arsenal fan and with his contract set to expire in 18 months time, the tabloids believe he could be available for just under the £4million mark. Although a lot of ground will have to be made between now and the end of the window, Dortmund’s current position of 17th in the Bundesliga be enough to convince Grosskreutz into jumping ship.
TRYONE MINGS
//www.youtube.com/embed/wvyRhxU0cxI
Age: 21
Height: 6 foot 5
Position: Left Back
Teams: Yate Town, Chippenham Town, Ipswich Town
Honours: Championship Player of the Month September 2014
Interested clubs: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, according to The Daily Star
Likely transfer fee: £8million, according to The Telegraph
Another defensive target known to be on the Emirates radar is Ipswich Town defender Tyrone Mings, with Arsene Wenger admitting as much back in December.
An electric-quick and ambitious left-back, creating 1.1 chances per match and grabbing three assists in 22 Championship outings this term, but also blessed with the imposing 6 foot 5 frame of a Premier League centre-half, the 21 year-old looks like a real prospect – one that could be moulded into virtually anything by Arsenal’s coaching staff. He’d certainly plug a few gaps in the Gunners’ defensive depth too.
There’s been continuously less gossip on Arsenal’s pursuit of the £8million-rated defender recently however, and with the Tractor Boys now pushing for a shock promotion bid, it would likely take a bid in excess of that fee to convince them to sell within the next week.
WILLIAM CARVALHO
//www.youtube.com/embed/Dld9uMC2jyE
Age:22
Height: 6 foot 2
Position: Defensive Midfield
Teams: Sporting Lisbon, Portugal
Honours: None
Interested clubs: Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, according to The Express
Likely transfer fee: £37million release clause, but other sources claim Sporting will sell for £25million.
Few are expecting further big-money moves from Arsenal this month after already signing Gabriel Paulista and Krystian Bielik, but if the Gunners were to go on a final spending spree before February 2nd, it would likely be to secure the services of Sporting Lisbon prodigy William Carvalho.
Arsenal’s midfield still lacks that physical, defensive presence and the Portugal international could be the perfect remedy, measuring at 6 foot 2, weighing in excess of 14 stone and famed for his simple-yet-effective play-breaking style. The Gunners reportedly launched a failed bid on summer deadline day, suggesting they could revive their interest.
Furthermore, Lisbon have recently restructured the ownership of all their third-party players, including Carvalho, ensuring they receive full profits from any sale. In other words, a big offer for the beastly midfielder this January will be even harder for them to turn down.
A signing that could still cost the north Londoners in excess of £25million however, Arsene Wenger may feel inclined to wait until the summer.
SAMI KHEDIRA
//www.youtube.com/embed/RetIjHKY6pA
Age: 27
Height: 6 foot 2
Positions: Central Midfield
Teams: Stuttgart, Real Madrid, German National Team
Honours: Bundesliga title 2006/07, La Liga title 2011/12, Copa Del Rey 2010/11, 2013/14, Champions League title 2013/14, World Cup 2014
Interested clubs: Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and PSG, according to the Daily Star
Likely transfer fee: €18million, according to Inside Spanish Football
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season and a new deal yet to materialise, it would be incredibly surprising if one of Europe’s top clubs didn’t attempt to lure Sami Khedira away from Real Madrid before the end of the transfer window.
Like Carvalho, he’s another midfielder that would add some much-needed mettle to the Gunners engine room, as a dynamic box-to-box with ruthless energy, fantastic defensive awareness and imperious ability in the air.
His quality and experience remain undoubted, having won both a Champions League title and a World Cup during the summer, and Khedira certainly strikes as a player who would acclimatise well to the combative nature of Premier League football.
That being said, and despite his incredibly reasonable €18million valuation, the German international’s recent injury record, amassing just 21 league appearances over the last 18 months due to prolonged sideline bouts, should be a concern for a club with so many injury-prone players already on the books.
MATTIA DESTRO
//www.youtube.com/embed/WsBaQTCBym8
Age: 23
Height: 5 foot 10
Position: Striker
Teams: Genoa, Siena, Roma, Italy
Honours: Coppa Italia finalist 2013, Serie A runner-up 2014
Interested clubs: Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, according to The Express
Likely transfer fee: £15million, according to The Daily Star
With Yaya Sanogo now on loan at Crystal Palace, The Daily Star claim Arsene Wenger wants to bolster his attacking options for the remainder of the campaign with a swoop for Roma’s Mattia Destro.
The 23 year-old’s return for the Stadio Olimpico outfit stands at an impressive 23 in 52 Serie A appearances since his debut in 2012, including five in eight starts this season, and he’s regarded as a particularly efficient striker, racking up decent hauls with few clear cut chances at goal.
That’s seen him ascend to the Italian national team over the last few seasons, picking up eight caps and one goal, and with just 18 months remaining on Destro’s contract, it appears several Premier League clubs are keen to snap him up in a cut-price deal.
Recent declarations from the versatile front-man, who has also featured on both flanks for Roma this season, regarding a lack of first team football and better opportunities abroad, suggest he’d be prepared to leave the Italian outfit this month.
