The January transfer market is often considered a difficult time to shop. The sellers often do not want to part ways between players in the middle of the season and the buyers are also worried about the price being increased. At the same time, buyers must also consider their budgets as it is unclear whether they will qualify for the Champions League or Europa League next season.
However, there are exceptions that show that quality contracts can be completely implemented in January. Liverpool have successfully added Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo in recent winter transfer windows, helping The Kop increase their attacking power and achieve many impressive results.
For Arsenal, the loss of both key right wingers Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling is posing an urgent problem. If they want to compete for the championship this season, The Gunners need to quickly find a way to solve this problem in the squad.
The loss of Saka and Sterling is not only an immediate difficulty but also exposes a long-term problem in the way Arsenal build their squad. This summer, the "Gunners" targeted a number of strikers such as Benjamin Sesko but in the end did not make any significant deals. Instead, they only borrowed 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 team in a passive situation. Although Mikel Arteta is still persistent in finding solutions from within the team such as using young players or adjusting tactical diagrams, this cannot guarantee Arsenal's great ambitions this season.
In fact, finding a quality winger in January is not an easy task. Top players often find it difficult to leave the club in the middle of the season and the available names may not fit Mikel Arteta's tactics. However, successful examples from Liverpool or Tottenham show that if they invest in the right players, Arsenal can completely make a difference.
Some potential names for Arsenal to target include today's Leroy Sane, Rayan Cherki, Johan Bakayoko or even Marcus Rashford. Notably, Sane was a bright choice as he played under Arteta at Man City. The German star's contract with Bayern Munich will expire next summer and there has been no formal agreement reached. The biggest obstacle is Sane's high salary.
As for Cherki and Bakayoko, both are bright attacking talents in Europe. They are all capable of playing diversely in the attack with creativity and dynamism. Rashford is perhaps the most difficult case, even though the Man United star hinted at leaving the Old Trafford team. The huge salary and complexity of the deal will become a big challenge for Arsenal. However, if Mikel Arteta is determined to recruit the English star, this deal could all take place in January.
The Gunners initially had no plans to spend big in the winter transfer window, but the current situation has forced them to reconsider. Bukayo Saka will be out for a long time and if they want to maintain their ambition to compete for the title, the team must act decisively.
However, this is not just a story about spending money. Mikel Arteta and the board need to ensure that any signing is consistent with the team's long-term model and strategy. Getting the wrong choice will not only affect this season but also Arsenal's future.
