With the new year fast approaching, there is an air of uncertainty around the Emirates Stadium.
Unai Emery’s sacking has left the Gunners without a manager as Freddie Ljungberg has taken interim charge over five games so far.
Mikel Arteta is expected to be named the new boss in the coming days but it remains to be seen whether or not the Spaniard gets immediate backing from the board in the transfer market with the January window set to open in just over two weeks.
Arsenal spent big in the summer but obvious holes in the squad remain and so they could be busy again in January.
Here are some of today’s biggest Arsenal transfer stories.
Arteta planning transfer targets
Arsenal have reached the stage of negotiations with Arteta where they are now discussing possible transfer targets with the former Gunners captain, according to the Independent .
The Spaniard could take over before Saturday’s clash with Everton and will look to make some additions next month.
The report also claims there could be a clear-out of players coming, with officials at the club worried about the response of the squad and the lack of an “emotional bounce” following Emery’s departure.
Arsenal miss out on Barcelona youngster
Manchester City have won the race for the signature of Barcelona youngster Juan Larios and will pay £350,000 in compensation to complete the deal, according to the Daily Record .
The teenage left back has been dubbed the next Jordi Alba and attracted the interest of a host of Premier League clubs after reportedly turning down the chance to become Barcelona’s third-highest paid youth player.
Spanish publication Sport claim his representatives turned down the chance to join Liverpool while a proposed move to Arsenal only fell apart based on the Gunners failing to match the terms offered by City.
Arsenal shut down Torreira transfer talk
Lucas Torreira will not be allowed to leave Arsenal for Napoli next month with the club determined to hold onto the Uruguayan.
Napoli reportedly made an approach to sign Torreira on an 18-month loan deal worth just £2.5million with the option to make it a permanent move in the summer of 2021 for £22.5million.
But according to The Star , Arsenal are not interested in the approach with the midfielder ‘categorically’ not for sale.
