Arsène Wenger says he’d prefer to see the January transfer window scrapped, but expects Arsenal to be very busy during the winter period.

Journalists asked the Arsenal manager if he’d have much to do in January, transfer-wise. Wenger responded: “Yes, because first of all you have clubs that call you to get players on loan or to buy your players. And as well I’m open-minded to any possibility to strengthen our team.”

However, the boss clearly has no love for the window. He told Arsenal.com on Wednesday: “I would scrap the transfer window in January, completely cut it off. The players today are very well paid, they make a lot of money. What you want in return is commitment to the club for the whole season.

“I think that’s absolutely vital. I think you should not be able to move once the season has started until the end of the season.” Perhaps that explains why Arsenal didn’t bring anyone in last year.

The Gunners only loaned a few players out in the window, and this January promises to be similar. Wenger already has a large squad of players filling up the wage bill, so he’ll probably need to sell first.

There are a few players I’d expect to be on the move in the winter. Eddie Nketiah made a dream-like start to life at the Emirates Stadium, but he’s struggling for chances now. Charlton manager Karl Robinson admitted they looked at Nketiah in the summer, and want a striker in January.

The situation will be similar for a number of young players who Wenger gave chances to in the opening months of the campaign. Then Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Özil and Jack Wilshere will probably resolve their situations, one way or another.

Their contracts expire at the end of the season, so they can sign pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs, leave for a fee in January, or sign new deals. If they go, I’d expect Arsenal to bring players in. But we’ll see.