SETTABLOID

Arsenal are one of many European clubs following the progress of Deportivo La Coruna winger Yeremay Hernandez this season.

The 22-year-old has had a good campaign for Deportivo in La Liga 2. He has registered seven goals and three assists from 17 games thus far.

His performances have caught the eye of several European teams including the Gunners, according to La Opinion de A Coruna (page 35).

Deportivo are not actively looking to part ways with the Spaniard this winter and they will hold out for his release clause worth £16.7 million.

Interested clubs will also need to convince the winger, who recently made it clear that he is happy with the faith shown in him by Deportivo.

Arsenal unlikely to explore mid-season deal for Hernandez

Hernandez is predominantly a left-sided winger. He has 10 goal contributions for Deportivo this term but has also excelled with other attributes.

The attacker has won an impressive 7.2 duels per game with 3.7 successful dribbles. He has made 4.9 recoveries on average with 1.1 tackles.

The Spaniard works hard in the defensive and offensive scheme of things, but Arsenal are not in a position to experiment with a signing.

The Gunners don’t need another left-sided winger due to the presence of Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus.

Their main concern is on the right side of the attack with Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri injured.

Arsenal need a marquee signing like Nico Williams to push them towards a potential league title.

Mikel Arteta will be desperate to return to winning ways when Arsenal lock horns with Manchester United. The Gunners will host the Red Devils at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, with a place in the FA Cup fourth round up for grabs.

Arsenal head into the heavyweight tie following a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday. Despite creating numerous opportunities to get back into the clash, the Magpies ended the north Londoners’ 13-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.

While Arteta puts his players through their paces in training, higher-ups will be working hard this month to bolster the Spaniard’s squad.

Bellingham makes shock decision

According to The Sun, Jobe Bellingham looks set to stay at Sunderland despite interest from Arsenal, Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Borussia Dortmund. The report states that the 19-year-old midfielder, who has impressed in the Championship this season, could cost up to £20m.

It’s said that the Black Cats are determined to hold onto Bellingham as they look to secure promotion to the Premier League. The Sun add that the teenager, who sees his contract expire in June 2028, would prefer to leave his homeland and join a top European club – just like his brother, Jude, did in 2020.

Arsenal seemingly could sign Alexander Isak during the winter transfer window while complying with Premier League profitability and sustainability rules.

The Gunners spent around £100 million during the summer, signing David Raya, Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori. However, they also recouped roughly £90 million from selling Aaron Ramsdale, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe.

Those moves mean the club has the funds to spend this month, with additions in forward areas being their most pressing priority. That is especially the case after failing to score for the sixth time this season against Newcastle United in their semi-final first leg.

That team standing between Arsenal and a first League Cup final for seven years was also responsible for the third. Alexander Isak scored the only goal when they met at St James’ Park in early November.

The striker had no goals against the Gunners in his first two games against them but now has two in as many matches after opening the scoring at the Emirates Stadium. That strike was Isak’s 50th for Newcastle, with only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah scoring more since his move to the Premier League two-and-a-half years ago.

Understandably, Newcastle reportedly value the player at over £150 million. That is around triple the release fee Manchester City paid Borussia Dortmund for Haaland and the same amount Liverpool rejected 18 months ago from Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad for Salah.

Arsenal may enter the market for a new forward in the January transfer window as they look to maintain their Premier League title challenge.

Bukayo Saka is facing a spell on the sidelines after having surgery on his injured hamstring and they don’t have an experienced like-for-like replacement for the winger.

“We are prepared if we need to do something, we’re capable of doing something, but then that transfer window is very tricky and difficult to control,” Mikel Arteta said. “The opportunities are very limited but we’ll be there.”

We’ve taken a look at seven potential targets who can fill in for Saka immediately and also provide him with competition when he returns to full fitness.

Bryan Mbeumo

Mbeumo helped Brentford win the Championship play-off final in 2020/21 and has since established himself as one of the best forwards in the Premier League.

He recently showcased his abilities in their 3-1 defeat against Arsenal, finding the back of the net with a clever left-footed finish past David Raya.

The Cameroon international now has 13 Premier League goals in 2024/25, making him the joint-third top goalscorer in the division.

“He’s added another layer this year,” Brentford manager Thomas Frank said. “I’m convinced one day he’ll play for a bigger club. I’d definitely buy him if I were at a bigger club.”

Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United have all been credited with an interest in the forward, who is valued in the region of £50million.

Mohammed Kudus

After selling Declan Rice to Arsenal in a deal worth £105million in the summer of 2023, West Ham United used some of that money to sign Kudus from Ajax.

The 24-year-old has registered 17 goals and eight assists in 62 appearances for the Hammers and could now follow in Rice’s footsteps.

Arsenal have been linked with a transfer for AS Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini but they may face stiff competition from Napoli. Mikel Arteta appears in major need of attacking signings but problems in midfield could soon emerge which may explain links to Pellegrini.

Though Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino have all arrived in the last 18 months to bolster the club’s engine room, Arteta could soon lose two key players in that area. Both Jorginho and Thomas Partey see their current contracts expire this summer and therefore it is likely both leave at the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign.

If that is the scenario that plays out, Arsenal will likely want to sign at least one replacement with one of those seemingly identified as Pellegrini. According to La Repubblica, via Roma Press, the Gunners have been listed as a potential suitor for the Italy international.

Pellegrini has 18 months remaining on his contract at Roma and that has seemingly alerted other clubs to the possibility of him either being available for a cheaper price or even a free transfer.

Antonio Conte’s confidence of landing the player appears to be very high with it also claimed a three-year contract has been prepared for Pellegrini. With three weeks of the winter trading period remaining, Napoli have plenty of time to reach an agreement but Arsenal will be hoping that does not happen.

While also being capable of thriving in a deeper role, the 28-year-old has taken on more creative responsibilities in recent years. Last season, he contributed to 15 goals in all competitions and his arrival would certainly help Arsenal cope with another possible absence for Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal could launch a bid for Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo as they try to beat Juventus to his signature.

The Gunners made contact with the Catalans several days ago to enquire about a potential move for Araujo and now they are set to step up their pursuit.

Mikel Arteta is open to signing a new centre-back this month, who can provide cover for Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. Jakub Kiwior is Arsenal’s current back-up option but he has featured infrequently and has been linked with moves to Serie A.

Arsenal and Juventus both hold concrete interest in Barcelona star Araujo. The Gunners are understood to be seriously considering a bid for the defender as they aim to beat Juventus in the race.

Araujo, 25, has made just one appearance this season due to being ruled out of the start of the campaign with a hamstring injury. He has now returned to full fitness and featured against UD Barbastro in the Copa Del Rey last week.

We understand that the Uruguayan international is open to leaving Barcelona for a new challenge this month and a switch to the Premier League interests him.

Barcelona, meanwhile are still in a precarious financial position and selling players like Araujo could help them in that regard.

It is currently unclear how much Arsenal are willing to spend on Araujo. However, contacts over a potential move started days ago and work is already underway over a deal, with a bid a real and imminent possibility.

Juventus will be tough to beat in the race as manager Thiago Motta has identified Araujo as a key target to cover for Gleison Bremer, who is currently sidelined with an injury.

Arsenal are reputedly interested in signing Ronald Araujo from Barcelona during this winter transfer window.

Araujo, 25, has missed much of this season following surgery after injuring a tendon in his right hamstring while playing for Uruguay in their Copa America quarter-final against Brazil this summer. However, the defender returned to training at the start of December and played for the first time in the Catalan club’s Copa del Rey tie against fourth-tier team Barbastro.

Before that setback, Araujo made the La Liga team of the season alongside Antonio Rudiger for the second time, having previously done so in 2022. That is the same year the player last signed a contract, with an £840m buyout clause, meaning his current deal expires in 18 months.

Mundo Deportivo claims Barcelona want the player to sign an extension, but there is reportedly a reluctance to discuss renewing with the club from Araujo. Their reputed attempts to sign Jonathan Tah when the Bayer Leverkusen defender becomes a free agent at the end of this season appear to be behind his hesitancy and that of his agents.

However, that is potentially beneficial for the Gunners, with the club reportedly making a move to tempt the player into leaving this window. They are not alone, though, with Gazzetta dello Sport revealing that Juventus have made a loan offer that includes an option to buy the player. There are further suggestions in Italy that a deal has materialised and that Araujo has agreed to leave, but Spanish outlets are playing down how far along any move is.

Links to Arsenal are emerging days after manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged during a press conference before the Newcastle United match that “whatever is in the market, we’re very alert”. Araujo, who has previously played at right-back for club and country, could help deputise in the continued absence of Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu over the coming weeks.

Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres is expected to be at the centre of a huge transfer battle this summer. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have all been linked to the Sweden international and he has not stopped scoring amid the rumours surrounding his future.

From 29 appearances, he has bagged 31 goals and picked up a further six assists with his performance levels seemingly not impacted by the departure of Ruben Amorim. Amorim, 39, became Manchester United head coach in November which certainly explains interest from Old Trafford in Gyokeres.

Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is another striker continuing to shine and of interest to other Premier League clubs. The 25-year-old is not quite matching the scoring of his fellow Swede but he has found the back of the net in eight of Newcastle’s last nine games.

One of those goals came against Arsenal this week when Isak created space for himself before finishing expertly past David Raya. Earlier in the season, Isak scored the only goal of the game when the Magpies beat Arsenal at St James’ Park.

Understandably, it will take a sizeable fee for either to move elsewhere in upcoming transfer windows with triple figures likely needed to sign Isak. Though Arsenal can just about afford that, Gyokeres appears to be available for nearly half that.

According to Record Portugal, Gyokeres and Sporting have an agreement in principle to allow a transfer for any amount between £58.6million and £62.8million (€70million and €75million). Potentially signing the 26-year-old for as little as that, given his quality, is not something to be sniffed at.

The mood is low, hopes and dreams have been dashed for some to the point where despite Arsenal sitting second in the league, many have even given up. I empathise with the frustrations.

Had anyone been offered the chance to be six points above Manchester City come January, I think most would have been naive enough to believe it would see the Gunners top of the pile. The reality is, should Liverpool win their game in hand, they would be 15 points ahead of the champions.

Arsenal are currently six behind, potentially nine, but sit on 40 points: the same number they were on after 20 games in the previous season. This is not a so secret statistic, I have certainly brought it up more than most as an attempt to provide context during a dour period of watching the side.

However, another element of the table I did not even look at has evaded me. The discourse has been that Arsenal look less potent and less threatening than they were last season; that the attacking players have somehow regressed.

On that point, if our attacking players have got worse and yet we have somehow achieved the same number of points at the same stage, that is a hell of a job that Mikel Arteta must be doing to extract the record they have managed. However, I digress; taking a look at the table after 20 matches, Arsenal have scored 39 goals in the league.

Considering the injury frustrations Arsenal have had with Bukayo Saka currently out, Martin Odegaard also missing 12 matches already this season in addition to their other issues and the perception that the side is lacking in attack, the fact they’re tracking ahead of the previous season is quite something. Of course, signings this winter would lift the mood and adding a forward is something I and many others see as a must in the near future.