Samir Nasri may well be the Premier League’s first transfer of the January window, but all eyes will be on his former Arsenal team-mate Aaron Ramsey as the market reopens.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Ramsey has still featured in 16 of Arsenal's 19 Premier League games this term, though he has started just seven of those matches.
The Wales international will be a bargain free transfer in the summer but he could leave this month, and is attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Juventus have all been linked with the midfielder, with the Gunners withdrawing their contract offer in October. Liverpool and Man Utd have also been linked previously, but we understand that neither side are expected to make a move for Ramsey this month.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Ramsey has still featured in 16 of Arsenal's 19 Premier League games this term, though he has started just seven of those matches.
Man Utd are also expected to be busy this month, with Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly still their No1 target despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival as interim manager.
Old Trafford chiefs are accepting of the fact that prising Koulibaly away from Italy could prove difficult this month, but the Senegalese international is just one of a number of targets for United.
As reported by Standard Sport, Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar is on their radar, along with Leicester City’s Harry Maguire, Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld, AC Milan’s Alessio Romagnoli and FC Porto’s Eder Militao.
Manchester rivals City could also move during the window, with additional options in central midfield required. Standard Sport understands that manager Pep Guardiola is a keen admirer of Ajax wonderkid Frenkie de Jong, while Wolves star Ruben Neves has also impressed the City boss.
Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic – wanted by Chelsea –will also dominate the backpages this month, while the future of Eden Hazard remains a huge talking point.
The Belgian is a long-term target of Real Madrid and, with Isco’s future are the Santiago Bernabeu also under scrutiny, expect more speculation involving those two.
Elsewhere in Spain, Ousmane Dembele’s future at Camp Nou will also be under the spotlight, though Standard Sport understands that Barcelona currently have no plans to sell the France international.
Additional reporting by the Press Association
