Arsenal are in a fantastic position at the start of the new year, with the confidence of a seven-point gap at the top of the Premier League added to by activity in the transfer market.
The Gunners have been exceptional under Mikel Arteta, winning 14 of their 16 league matches so far. Things could be about to get even better, with the club busy in the January transfer window.
A move for Ukraine winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is edging closer, with the Shakhtar Donetsk star reportedly agreeing on personal terms. The 21-year-old has long been linked with a move to north London – and he is not the only one.
Arsenal’s position at the summit of the Premier League after their 4-2 win over Brighton on New Year’s Eve appears to be attracting other high-calibre players. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at the latest news and rumours.
Secret weapon in Felix race
Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix in the January window. Felix wants out of Atleti after falling out with Diego Simeone and his agent, Jorge Mendes, is on the case.
Manchester United and Chelsea have also been contacted, according to The Athletic, but he won’t come cheap. Atletico paid Benfica €127million (£113m) in 2019 for Felix and are hoping to receive a total financial package of €21m (£18.6m), made up of a loan fee and his salary, in order to let him leave.
Arsenal are weighing up whether Felix is worth haggling for, but they do have a potential edge over their rivals. Felix is still in contact with his former Atleti teammate Thomas Partey, who could sway his friend’s decision.
Would you like to see Arsenal sign Joao Felix? Have your say in the comments!
Gunners trigger extensions
Arsenal are not just looking externally this month – they are also moving to tie down their current stars. According to football.london, the Gunners have triggered one-year extensions in the contracts of Bukayo Saka and William Saliba
Saka’s current deal was due to expire in the summer of 2023, but will run until the end of June 2024 instead. Arsenal are locked in talks with the winger’s representatives over a new contract and are confident over agreeing terms, but have activated their insurance policy just in case.
The situation is understood to be the same with Saliba, who is delighted at finally breaking into the Arsenal first team after three loan spells in France.
Tielemans alternatives
Youri Tielemans looks set to leave Leicester, whether it is this month or when his contract expires at the end of June. The Belgian midfielder has been linked with Arsenal for a long time, but they are exploring alternatives.
Reports in Italy state that Arsenal are interested in Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who is out of contract in the summer and can therefore start negotiating with non-Serie A clubs over a free transfer in July.
There is another potential option at Barcelona, where summer signing Franck Kessie isn’t getting much game time. Former Chelsea star Craig Burley believes he could be the perfect signing for the Gunners.
“Again, he [Kessie] was surplus today at Barcelona [vs Espanyol],” Burley told ESPN. “Would he [Arteta] get him on loan? He would be terrific cover. But does he want to go from being cover at Barcelona to cover at Arsenal? I don’t know.”
