Arsenal are not usually big spenders in the January transfer window. But this winter could be different with the Gunners topping the Premier League table and in with a shout for the title for the first time in a number of years.
The Gunners have been out of the title shake-up for a long time, with Champions League qualification in the top four the height of their hopes and dreams in recent seasons - with that often falling by the wayside too.
But Mikel Arteta is building something at the Emirates Stadium. Something good. Arsenal have spent more than £100million in each of the last two summer transfer windows, although January has remained a quiet time.
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But with a World Cup to contend with, breaking up the season, and Arsenal sitting at the summit of the Premier League table - where they will be at Christmas if they win their final game before the World Cup break against Wolves at the weekend - Arteta and technical director Edu could be forced to change their plans.
The Arsenal hierarchy may look at January as an opportunity to strengthen in key areas to ensure their title tilt remains on track - feeling they may not get a better chance to challenge Manchester City for the crown after a superb start to the 2022/23 campaign.
Youri Tielemans is one name that continues to be linked with a move to north London. The Gunners were heavily linked with making a move last summer, but decided against splashing the cash on the Leicester City star.
He would, undoubtedly, bolster Arteta's midfield options, giving competition to the likes of Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard in the midfield. But Arsenal have seemingly already revealed their stance on signing the Belgian in January.
football.london reported in the summer, before the transfer window close, that Arsenal were prepared to wait until Tielemans’ current contract expires to secure the Belgian on a free transfer.
There has been interest from the likes of Newcastle United and Manchester United for Tielemans, but the Gunners have had an agreement with the player in place for some time and are confident of tying him down to a contract next summer, when he will be available for free.
So, if Arsenal do look to break from the norm and make signings in January, Tielemans is not likely to be one of them.
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