Unai Emery is not expecting major business from Arsenal in the January transfer window but is hopeful he may be able to add “one or two signings” to his squad.
However, it appears that Gary Cahill will not be one of those additions after Emery confirmed he had not spoken with the Arsenal hierarchy about making a move for the Chelsea centre-back.
Emery has previously expressed a desire to add to a defence that has struggled with injuries - centre-back Rob Holding is out for the season - and has conceded 31 goals in 21 Premier League games, 10 more than any other side in the top five.
Arsenal have little room to manoeuvre in the transfer market after spending £70million in the summer and agreeing major new contracts with Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan over the past 12 months.
“It’s not easy, changing and improving our team in the transfer market,” Emery said when asked whether he expected to make additions this month.
“But the club is working, we are watching different possibilities because maybe we can, if the transfer market gives us opportunities, sign one or two players. But it’s not easy.”
Asked specifically whether he would make a move for Cahill, Emery did not entirely rule out a move.
However, the coach also indicated that he had not previously discussed the 33-year-old, whose Chelsea contract expires at the end of the season, with Arsenal’s recruitment team.
Though their wage bill leaves them with minimal room to manoeuvre this month, the Gunners are likely to have significantly more money to spend in the summer when new sponsorship deals with Adidas and Emirates begin.
