The January transfer window is often seen as a difficult time to buy. Sellers are reluctant to part with players mid-season and buyers are concerned about inflated prices. At the same time, clubs must consider their budgets when it is unclear whether they will qualify for the Champions League or Europa League next season.
However, there are exceptions that show that quality signings can absolutely be made in January. Liverpool have successfully added Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo in recent winter transfer windows, helping The Kop strengthen their attack and achieve many impressive results.
For Arsenal, the loss of both key right wingers Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling is an urgent problem. If they want to compete for the championship this season, The Gunners need to quickly find a way to solve this gap in the squad.
The loss of Saka and Sterling is not just an immediate problem, it also exposes a long-term problem with the way Arsenal are building their squad. The Gunners targeted a number of strikers, including Benjamin Sesko, last summer but failed to make any significant signings. Instead, they just loaned Sterling from Chelsea in the final hours of the transfer window, a temporary solution rather than a long-term investment.
The failure to add a quality winger has left the Emirates Stadium team in a passive situation. Although Mikel Arteta is still persistent in looking for solutions from within the team such as using young players or adjusting the tactical scheme, this cannot guarantee Arsenal's great ambitions this season.
In fact, finding a quality winger in January is no easy task. Top players are unlikely to leave mid-season and the names available may not fit Mikel Arteta’s tactics. However, as the successes of Liverpool and Tottenham show, if Arsenal invest in the right player, they can make a difference.
Some potential names for Arsenal to target include Leroy Sane, Rayan Cherki, Johan Bakayoko or even Marcus Rashford. Notably, Sane is a bright choice as he played under Arteta at Man City. The German star's contract with Bayern Munich expires next summer and no official agreement has been reached. The biggest obstacle is Sane's high salary.
As for Cherki and Bakayoko, both are promising attacking talents in Europe. They both have the ability to play in a variety of attacking positions, with creativity and dynamism. Rashford is perhaps the most difficult case, although the Man United star has hinted at leaving the Old Trafford team. The huge salary and the complexity of the deal will become a big challenge for Arsenal. However, if Mikel Arteta is determined to recruit the English star, the deal could completely happen in January.
The Gunners had not originally planned to spend big in the winter transfer window but the current situation has forced them to reconsider. Bukayo Saka is out for the long term and if they are to maintain their title ambitions, they will have to act decisively.
But it’s not just about spending money. Mikel Arteta and the board need to ensure that any signing fits the long-term model and tactics of the team. Getting it wrong will impact not just this season but Arsenal’s future.
