SETTABLOID

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.

Jurrien Timber has insisted Arsenal want to “win everything” this season ahead of the crunch FA Cup clash against Manchester United this weekend.

The Gunners welcome Ruben Amorim’s side to Emirates Stadium on Sunday hoping to book a place in the fourth round of the competition. They go into the clash on the back of a disappointing defeat against Newcastle, though.

Arsenal fell to a 2-0 home loss to Newcastle in the opening leg of their semi-final on Tuesday, with the loss coming just days after a 1-1 draw with Brighton in the Premier League. The result against the Seagulls means Liverpool are six points clear having played a game less.

Asked if the FA Cup clash will carry greater importance in the wake of their defeat to Newcastle, Timber said: “It was already a big game because United always is. We want to win and give the fans something to celebrate so we are going to give our all on Sunday. I am really looking forward to that game and to bounce back. It is another cup game so we have to win.

“Every competition is really important. We want to win everything. It is not easy, and it is not always going to happen, but that is why it is important that we bounce back. The focus is on the FA Cup and then, after that, the Premier League.”

Arsenal secured a 2-0 league victory over Man Utd last month but Amorim’s side will arrive in north London brimming with confidence after their 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield. But Timber added: “We played them already a month ago so we know what we are getting. They have a good squad with a lot of good players. It is not going to be easy but we will be ready.”

Jobe Bellingham has reportedly made a decision over his future at Sunderland following reports that a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ is in place, as both Arsenal and Manchester United are heavily linked with a move.

The younger brother of Real Madrid and England superstar Jude Bellingham has been in outstanding form so far this season, playing a major role as The Black Cats push for promotion back to the Premier League after being relegated eight years ago.

Bellingham has scored four goals and added three assists in 23 Championship outings this term while playing in several different central midfield roles. Indeed, despite his attacking threat, the 19-year-old has played many of his games in a holding role.

That sort of versatility, to go along with the Bellingham name, has seen Sunderland reportedly slap a £20million price tag on the teenager’s head  – not bad for a player who only cost £1.5m when he joined from Birmingham 18 months ago.

Arsenal and United are not expected to be overly active in the market this month but both clubs have scouted Bellingham regularly and FootballTransfers claims that a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ is in place with Sunderland ‘should a suitable offer arise’ from a Premier League club.

However, The Sun reports that Bellingham has no plans to leave the north east club this month, despite some serious interest in his services, which includes Arsenal, United and also Crystal Palace.

Indeed, it’s reported that the talented midfielder actually has his eye on a move to Europe in the summer to continue his development abroad and follow the path taken by his elder sibling, who joined Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham, before his eventual move to Real.