Arsenal are eyeing three players in the January transfer window to bolster their squad depth.
Arsenal were comprehensively beaten 5-1 by the league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday. That outing raised a few question marks over the defensive performance of the Gunners.
Despite losing that game, Unai Emery’s side are in touching distance of the top four spot. The Gunners are struggling on roads this term, having played so well in the last few games.
To strengthen their chances to qualify for the Champions League next season, the Spaniard is eyeing three signings to bolster his squad. According to the Sunday Times, it is believed that Arsenal are looking for a central defender, midfielder and winger in the January transfer window.
Having already leaked 30 goals in 20 games this season, the Gunners are looking to recruit someone to reinforce their backline. The signing of Stephen Leichsteiner and Sokratis Papastothopolous have not paid off as the Premier League is more demanding and faced paced when compared to their previous leagues.
Unai Emery has been actively searching for a defender in the market. The likes of Gary Cahill and Fernando Calero are being included in the shortlist.
Gary Cahill could prove to be a good stopgap option, but he is currently struggling to break into Chelsea squad. On the other hand, Fernando Calero is a long-term option and has every minute for Real Valladolid.
Arsenal were never shy in buying Ever Banega from Sevilla. It is understood that the Gunners are willing to bid 17 million pounds for the midfielder, but he is not ready to force the transfer to get reunited with his former manager.
The Argentine has already played under Emery at Valencia and Sevilla and could prove to be a great option for the Gunners as they look to bring in a more experienced player in the middle of the park.
Former Arsenal Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis travelled to Sevilla to convince Ever Banega, but he did not want to move at the particular point of time.
Another player the Gunners have keen on is Nicolas Pepe. The Lille winger has been explosive throughout the season with 12 goals and 5 assists in the Ligue 1 alone. However, the demanding price of 80 million Euros might put of the Gunners who are in requirement of a winger.
With his contract expiring in 2022, Pepe has been one of the most significant players in the Ligue 1 and having turned the heads of several clubs, it will be tough for Arsenal if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
The player has said that he would stay with the French outfit until the end of the season,
“For me, that’s for sure. As the [Lille] president said, I have decided to finish the season with Lille and that’s the end of it, nothing will be done. I am under contract until 2022.”
With the fixtures coming thick and fast, Emery will hope to finish in the top four and gain a silverware this term. It will be interesting to see how things pan out for the Gunners in the transfer market.
Arsenal will be hoping for a change of fortunes when they play Fulham in the Premier League on Tuesday.
