Previous to the beginning of the 2024/25 season, Arsenal followers can have been calling out for the membership to signal a brand new striker.
Having narrowly missed out on Premier League glory in two consecutive seasons and never purchased a longtime centre-forward since Gabriel Jesus’ arrival in 2022, a world-class striker may have been the lacking piece to lastly push them over the road and safe the title.
Nonetheless, Mikel Arteta as soon as once more started the marketing campaign with the identical attacking choices he had within the earlier season – Jesus and Kai Havertz – leaving many questioning whether or not this might be sufficient to compete once more.
Come January, when Jesus was dominated out for the rest of the yr with harm, it could appear this might immediate the Gunners into motion within the switch market.
However but once more, no transfer materialised, regardless of just a few half-hearted efforts. And shortly after Havertz was dominated out for the remainder of the season in February, the membership’s title problem has unravelled earlier than their eyes.
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Although it could now be too late, we have now listed six strikers Arsenal may have signed in January to bolster their squad.
1
Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa
Beginning with the striker Arsenal got here closest to touchdown in January, the Gunners made a last-ditch try to signal Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. Nonetheless, their advances had been swiftly rebuffed by each the membership and the participant himself.
Based on BBC Sport, Villa rejected Arsenal’s curiosity, as they’d – and nonetheless have – no intention of parting methods with the 29-year-old striker.
Moreover, Watkins reportedly informed Villa supervisor Unai Emery to show down Arsenal’s supply, as he was decided to remain at Villa Park and proceed his improvement with the Midlands membership.
Since becoming a member of Aston Villa from Brentford for an preliminary £28m in 2020, Watkins has been a standout performer, registering 81 targets in 201 appearances for the membership. His tempo, work ethic, and medical ending make him a formidable striker, and he would have been a robust addition to Arsenal’s squad for the second half of the season and past.
Sadly for Arsenal, regardless of their curiosity, their strategy was deemed inadequate to persuade each Villa and Watkins to make a transfer. In consequence, the Gunners missed out on one of many Premier League’s most dependable strikers, who stays a key determine for Villa shifting ahead.
2
Alexander Isak
Newcastle United
It was extremely unlikely that Arsenal may have secured Alexander Isak in January, as Newcastle United made it clear that they’d no intention of promoting the Swedish ahead. Isak has been in sensational type this season, scoring 21 targets in all competitions, together with the one purpose in a 1-0 win over Arsenal again in November.
Regardless of the low probabilities of a transfer, if Arsenal had made the proper supply, it would not have been fully unimaginable to land the striker.
Isak does not have a launch clause in his contract, however in keeping with The Solar, Newcastle reportedly could have been prepared to let him go for a staggering £160m.
After all, Arsenal had been by no means going to pay that determine, neither is it possible that any membership ever will, but when they did, they might have acquired one of many hottest and most gifted strikers in world soccer.
At simply 25 years outdated, Isak wouldn’t solely have been a key addition to Arsenal’s assault for a few years to return, however may have been the difference-maker in firing the Gunners to their first Premier League title in over twenty years.
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3
Matheus Cunha
Wolverhampton Wanderers
One other participant closely linked with a transfer to the Emirates in January, Matheus Cunha has been one of many Premier League’s standout performers this season, regardless of enjoying for a struggling Wolves aspect.
The Brazil worldwide has scored 13 Premier League targets this marketing campaign, a lot of which have been sensational, and his general play has been a delight to look at. Cunha has impressed along with his elegant dribbling, intelligent motion off the ball and talent to hyperlink up seamlessly with teammates.
He was additionally linked with strikes to Manchester United and Tottenham, however with no bid incoming, Cunha stayed put at Molineux, signing a brand new four-and-a-half-year contract with the membership. In an interview after the deal was accomplished, Cunha made it clear that he had no intentions of leaving Wolves anytime quickly.
“I by no means take into consideration leaving, actually,” he stated. “I’m so comfortable to be right here. I hope to proceed doing good issues.”
Nonetheless, Cunha’s new contract does embrace a launch clause of round £60m, which may be activated in the summertime. If Wolves face relegation, it is possible that the clause will likely be triggered, and Arsenal will not be the one membership vying for his signature as soon as extra.
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4
Marcus Rashford
Manchester United/Aston Villa
Marcus Rashford’s long-standing affiliation with Manchester United got here to an finish in January because the English ahead joined Aston Villa on mortgage, with the Villans holding the choice to signal him completely for £40m in the summertime.
Because the transfer, Rashford seems to have rediscovered the sort of type that after noticed him hailed as among the best younger skills in world soccer. Most just lately, he recorded two assists in Villa’s 2-1 win over Chelsea, additional highlighting his resurgence below Unai Emery.
Nonetheless, it may have been Arsenal reaping the rewards of Rashford’s revival reasonably than Villa.
Based on Sky Italia journalist Massimo Marianella, the Gunners did certainly maintain discussions with Manchester United about signing Rashford earlier than he joined Villa. Regardless of these talks, Mikel Arteta in the end determined in opposition to pursuing a deal for the 27-year-old.
In hindsight, that call now seems to be questionable, significantly given Rashford’s spectacular begin to life at Villa Park. Because the ahead regains his type and confidence, Arsenal followers have to be questioning in the event that they missed a golden alternative to deliver a participant of his calibre to the Emirates.
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5
Jonathan David
Lille
Jonathan David has lengthy been a goal for Arsenal, due to his spectacular performances in Ligue 1 and Europe for Lille.
Since becoming a member of the French aspect in 2020, the Canadian striker has made an simple influence, scoring 104 targets and offering 27 assists in 219 appearances and successful Ligue 1 in 2020/21.
This season alone, he has notched up 20 targets and 9 assists in simply 36 video games, proving to be one of the crucial deadly forwards in Europe.
Based on the Mail, Arsenal explored the potential for signing David in January, however regardless of experiences suggesting that the 25-year-old might be obtainable for a cut-price payment, no deal materialised. Lille had been reportedly open to promoting him for lower than his market worth in an effort to keep away from dropping him totally free when his contract expires on the finish of the season.
Luckily for Arsenal, David has expressed his want to make a transfer to the Premier League within the close to future.
“My future? Targeted on getting this nice membership again to Europe the place it belongs. The remaining will come,” he stated, as per Sky Sports activities in March 2023. “Premier League? Top-of-the-line leagues on the planet, why not?”
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6
Victor Osimhen
Napoli/Galatasaray
Victor Osimhen’s identify is usually linked with main transfers, and in the course of the January window, experiences prompt Arsenal made a push for the Nigerian striker.
Osimhen helped Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990, however after being frozen out by supervisor Antonio Conte and failing to safe a everlasting transfer away final summer season, he joined Turkish aspect Galatasaray on mortgage.
Since then, he has impressed in Istanbul, scoring 20 targets in 25 video games throughout all competitions, together with six in seven video games within the Europa League.
Based on Soccer Insider, Arsenal made contact with Napoli for a possible late January transfer, however the switch in the end didn’t materialise and he remained at Galatasaray.
A participant of Osimhen’s calibre would have been a serious enhance to Arsenal’s assault, and with Napoli reportedly eager to dump him, he may have been obtainable for a comparatively cut-price payment of round £55m – a cut price for somebody of his high quality.
Nonetheless, Osimhen isn’t anticipated to remain in Turkey past this season, nor will he possible return to Napoli, which implies his glorious type for Galatasaray will certainly appeal to suitors, Arsenal included, once more in the summertime.
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