Five Arsenal transfers to watch this January

03 January 2014 14:14

Another January transfer window dawns with the usual suspects cast into the mix of wantaways and wantobuys, but this January will have greater urgency for players eager to prove their worth to international managers with the World Cup approaching fast on the horizon.

Top of the list of clubs rumoured to be looking to strengthen their squads in the Premier League are Arsenal.

Several of the players in the mix are those that have been linked with moves away at previous transfer windows which for one reason or another failed to happen and below are five transfer rumours of note:

Diego Costa

According to the Star, Arsenal are chasing Diego Costa and are set to offer £32m for the Brazilian Striker. Costa currently plays for Atletico Madrid where he has been free-scoring this season with 19 goals in 17 La Liga appearances. The Star suggests that Costa, 25 has a buyout clause that would be triggered and that his services would certainly be put to use immediately with their shortage up front.

The Star also states that despite interest also from Chelsea that they were not interested in a January striker purchase, preferring a summer move.


Stephen El Shaarawy

This rumour has gone a bit quite since mid-November and Arsenal may prefer paying the extra for Costa but may be back in the frame should they fail to lure the Brazilian. The AC Milan striker has been linked with a number of Premier League sides including Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs.

A report in the Express suggests tentative enquiries were made and a £25m price was quoted for his services. The striker has had a lack of playing time at Milan with the manager’s tactics preferring Balotelli and Matri up front.

Nicolas N’Koulou

Arsenal have shown interest in the Marseille centre-back who Arsenal played against in the group stages of the Champions League. Marseille lost all six of their Champions League matches and have been inconsistent in the league. The Metro reported that the 23-year-old Cameroon international had rules himself out of a January move, vowing to stay at Marseille and reverse the clubs fortunes.

"Leaving in the winter? I am no coward," he told France Football.

"I am not happy with what I have showed recently, so in such circumstances I won't leave.

"I owe a lot to l'OM who made me make a name for myself. It is very important for me to find again my best level first."

Time will tell if Arsenal manage to lure the defender to The Emirates.

Dimitar Berbatov

The 32-year-old Bulgarian has issued a ‘come and get me’ plea to Arsenal after posting a video on his Facebook page which states that he could make the difference for Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions this season. The Metro states that Arsenal could acquire the striker for £2m in January.

Berbatov who enjoyed great spells at Spurs and Manchester United would certainly have plenty to offer Arsenal as they look to strengthen their attacking options in the second half of the season.

Javier Hernandez

Hernandez has fallen into a super-sub role at Manchester United and has for some time been linked with moves away. Arsenal are one of the clubs he has been associated with their current striker needs and according to the Metro, Arsenal are planning to swoop for Hernandez and Berbatov.

The 25-year old Mexican international known by his nickname Chicharito will be keen to get as much playing time as possible with the World Cup in Brazil looming fast on the horizon.

It’s easy to see Hernandez complimenting the existing strike force but would Manchester sell Hernandez to a club closing in on taking their title?

 

Source: DSG