It has not taken long for some Arsenal fans to reveal their dream January transfer target after watching England begin their World Cup campaign.
With the Gunners sitting top of the Premier League table, attention has already turned to who Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu can target in the new year to bolster the first-team squad in the hope of ending an almost two-decade wait to be crowned champions of England once again.
In recent weeks there has been talk of Arsenal reigniting their interest in Shakthar Donetsk winger Mykhailo Mudryk. A move failed to materialise in the summer, whilst Palmeiras' Danilo could also be back on the radar if the club's decision-makers think the midfield department needs strengthening.
READ MORE: Moises Caicedo stars, Piero Hincapie resolute - Arsenal World Cup transfer target watch
And if it was up to a number of Gunners supporters, a midfield signing would be ideal in January. However, Danilo is not who some view as the perfect signing.
That honour falls on Jude Bellingham. Admittedly, this is rather ambitious as the Borussia Dortmund star is reportedly attracting interest from the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea, so the north London outfit would have their work cut out to get a deal done at some point in 2023.
But after the teenager opened the scoring for England against Iran and then celebrated with Bukayo Saka - who marked his World Cup debut with a brace - a lot of Arsenal supporters flocked to social media to reveal their hope of seeing him pull on their famous red shirt very soon.
@cashmoneyk11 said: "Bellingham sign him up @Arsenal", @Pereboomin is hopeful: "@Arsenal, Jude Bellingham, please find a way", @Goonerr92 kept it simple: "Get Bellingham to the carpet", and @OlisaOsega continued the theme but it willing to be patient: "Just get Jude Bellingham to the carpet in the summer. I'm on my knees."
Furthermore, @AFCWalter_ said: "Drop £100m for Bellingham in the summer, @Arsenal", @luckylenzel said: "If there's even 0.001% of a chance, can we please go for Bellingham @Arsenal", and @feanorgooner is looking to the future: "Bellingham for Xhaka's replacement! Do it @Arsenal."
In an alternative universe, Bellingham could have been representing Arsenal at the World Cup, according to former captain Tony Adams who revealed a couple of years ago that the midfielder was on the club's radar prior to joining Dortmund: "I think it got lost, this one, in the transition of the chief scout [Steve Morrow] at Arsenal going out," he said when speaking to Sky Sports.
"He was spotted very early on, not by me, by the Arsenal recruitment office. The chief scout was absolutely bowled over by him and the great prospect that he is. He had more or less done the deal, but at that moment, the new sporting director Edu came in from Brazil and had no European experience and no UK experience.
"I think it got lost in the transition. Edu didn't know anything about this player. Unfortunately, the chief scout had the deal kind of done - we missed that one, unfortunately. They are the type of players we need to get hold of at Arsenal if we're ever going to develop and go forward. These kinds of players we need to tie up, get them to Arsenal and build a phenomenal league team. He's a great talent, but unfortunately, he's not joined the right club."
READ NEXT:
Nuno Tavares assist, defender injured and Nicolas Pepe scores again - Arsenal loan latest
From rejecting Chelsea to starring for England at World Cup - The rise of Arsenal's Bukayo Saka
Edu hijacks Barcelona and Man City dream transfer mission to sign 'next Pedri' amid Arsenal plan
Arsenal’s £35m Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain decision pays off as Edu given blueprint for sale success
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
