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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

What to expect from Arsenal before January transfer window deadline

Arsenal want to sign a midfielder before Tuesday’s transfer deadline as they bid to strengthen their title charge.

The Gunners are short on options in the centre as Mohamed Elneny is out injured with a knee problem.

Arsenal’s top target is Moises Caicedo, but Brighton are adamant he is not for sale during the current window.

It should be a busy end to the month for Arsenal as sporting director Edu looks to get a deal for a midfielder over the line.

(Getty Images)

Top priority

Signing a new midfielder.

Manager Mikel Arteta has spoken openly about how Arsenal are lacking cover in midfield and they are trying to address that.

A deal for Caicedo looks tough to do, however the player insisting he wants to leave could help matters.

Arsenal’s FA Cup loss to Manchester City showed how they struggle without Thomas Partey, so bringing someone in to provide competition and cover is important.

The Gunners are five points clear at the top of the Premier League and won’t want to waste a great chance to win the title.

What else they need

To be honest, other than a midfielder the squad looks pretty well set for the rest of the season.

Arsenal have already brought in a new winger in Leandro Trossard and centre-back in Jakub Kiwior. If they land a midfielder too, it will have been a great window.

If you were being greedy, you could argue Arsenal could do with getting another striker in on loan to provide back up to Eddie Nketiah while Gabriel Jesus remains absent due to a knee injury.

(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Possible ins

Caicedo is Arsenal’s top target in the final days of the transfer window.

He will not come cheap, though, and it may mean Edu has to look at other targets if he wants to bring someone in.

A loan signing could work well, but there are a lack of quality options out there. Arsenal were interested in Eduardo Camavinga, however Real Madrid will not let him go.

Juventus’ Weston McKennie has been offered to clubs in England, but looks set for Leeds.

Possible outs

The only real departure that looks on the cards is Cedric Soares.

Arsenal are in talks with Fulham over a loan deal for the right-back and there is optimism a deal will be struck.

Cedric has struggled for minutes this season at Arsenal and has slipped behind Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the pecking order.

Fulham manager Marco Silva is pushing for the move as he worked with Cedric when he was the boss of Sporting.

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