Arsenal are in the market for a central midfielder this month, but efforts to land Arthur Melo from Juventus are proving to be difficult, which could force the club to wait until the summer.
They were also interested in Lyon's Bruno Guimaraes, but he looks set to join Eddie Howe's Newcastle United revolution in another transfer blow for the north London outfit.
If the Gunners do decide to make an addition at the end of the season rather than during the winter, new and more capable options could become available for Mikel Arteta.
If Arsenal are willing to put their chase for a new central midfielder on hold, who could they target once the summer window opens?
football.london takes a look below.
Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)
Youri Tielemans is regarded as one of the best central midfielders in the country at the moment. He's proven in the Premier League and also has experience playing in Europe's biggest tournaments.
Crucially, the Belgian midfielder is out of contract in 2023. This summer, he'll have 12 months left on his deal, which could force Leicester City into selling him for a reasonable price rather than losing him for free further down the line.
Still just 24 years old, Tielemans is a highly capable midfielder and would likely be a dream signing for Arteta. He's versatile, adaptable and always available for selection, and his ability to move the ball forward into dangerous areas would help Arsenal's cause while weakening a top-four contender.
Fabian Ruiz (Napoli)
Fabian Ruiz is a classy midfielder who is established in European football but, like Tielemans, his contract is due to expire in 2023.
The Spaniard is now 25 years old and he's a proven regular who doesn't miss many matches, having started in 76 of his team's last 99 matches in Serie A. He's accustomed to occupying a variety of roles in midfield thanks to his versatile skill set.
Ruiz is left-footed which is a valuable perk and when in possession of the ball, he's an impressive progressor of the ball through passing and carrying. Moreover, he offers a scoring threat, having scored 16 non-penalty goals in Serie A over the past three-and-a-half seasons.
Mahmoud Dahoud (Borussia Dortmund)
An alternative option for Arsenal to consider who hasn't been mentioned much in the transfer world is Mahmoud Dahoud of Borussia Dortmund.
The German midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool some years ago while at Borussia Monchengladbach, but Jurgen Klopp's former club managed to land his signature at the time.
Dahoud hasn't played the most minutes in recent years, but he's cool and comfortable in possession. He's a silky midfielder who is attack-minded, progressive with his passing and eager to dribble in comparison to the typical central midfielder.
Now 26 years old, Dahoud could be entering his prime years of performance, and his contract at BVB is due to expire in 2023. This summer, the Bundesliga club could be forced to cash in rather than losing him for free.
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa)
An option that seems to have emerged in recent days is Douglas Luiz, who is currently contracted to Aston Villa and is perhaps one of the few who could actually agree to join this month.
He's just 23 years old and proven in the Premier League but much like Ruiz, Tielemans and Dahoud, his deal will expire in the summer of 2023.
The Gunners seem keen to capitalise on his apparent availability, with Steven Gerrard rumoured to be lining up Rodrigo Bentancur of Juventus as a potential replacement for the claret and blue outfit.
Luiz is always available and he possesses quite a well-rounded skill set. The former Manchester City midfielder doesn't have too many weaknesses attached to his game, although he is particularly capable when required to work against the ball.
