The January transfer window usually isn’t the most exciting time to be an Arsenal supporter, but with a top four finish slipping away and the clock ticking on several current Gunners’ contracts, a flurry of transfer activity could be on the horizon.
While the future of Riyad Mahrez seems to flip flop every hour between a move to Liverpool, Arsenal, or staying at Leicester, here are five much more promising Arsenal transfer targets for the January window.
Steven N’Zonzi
The possibility of Sevilla’s Steven N’Zonzi moving to north London within the next few weeks is probably as close to a ‘sure thing’ as Arsenal are going to get.
Express Sport reports that the 6’5″ defensive midfielder is Wenger’s number one target and his addition would surely be welcome to a side that’s shipped the most goals in the top six.
N’Zonzi has made over 70 appearances for Sevilla since 2015 and prior to that he was a nailed on starter at Stoke City for three seasons.
To acquire him, Arsenal will have to get to him before Everton’s Sam Allardyce, who managed N’Zonzi at Blackburn from 2009-12.
Lucas Vazquez
Rumours have been swirling around the potential exits of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, whose contracts are both set to expire in June. If one or both do end up leaving the Emirates, Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez is considered a front runner to come in and take on their scoring duties.
After collecting more total appearances than anyone else for Los Blancos last season, the 26-year-old winger has been relegated mostly to sub duty, having started and finished just two La Liga matches this campaign.
According to Spain’s Don Balon, Wenger will do “anything” to see the Spaniard don a Gunners shirt.
Fred
Arsenal may not battle Manchester United on the pitch again until the end of April, but right now they find themselves in a transfer battle over the services of a Brazilian named Fred (no, not that one).
Since moving there from Inter in 2013, this younger Fred has racked up over 140 appearances for Shakhtar Donetsk, helping them to both league and cup titles in that time.
Fred is contracted with the Ukrainian giants until 2021, but given the tier of suitors he is attracting, which includes PSG, Atletico Madrid, Napoli, the club cashing in on him long before then seems highly likely.
If Santi Cazorla fails to return from injury, Fred could turn out to be a more than worthy replacement for the creative midfielder.
Sergio Romero
Instead of switching between Petr Cech and David Ospina, the solution to Arsenal’s goalkeeping frustrations might be to bring in another one altogether.
According to Wenger, Ospina is “not happy and not unhappy”, which may be enough to motivate the club to sell the 29-year old to somewhere he can be the permanent #1.
Taking his place could be Sergio Romero, the Argentinean stuck in a similar holding pattern behind David de Gea at Manchester United.
At the beginning of December, Ladbrokes and other online sportsbooks listed Arsenal as 9/4 favourites to become Sergio Romero’s next home.
Since joining United in 2015 from Sampdoria, he’s only started six Premier League matches, although he can claim a clean sheet in the 2017 Europa League final victory over Ajax.
Jonny Evans
After making their interest in him known last summer, Arsenal are once again courting the services of West Brom captain Jonny Evans.
The 30-year old defender has a year and a half left on his deal with the Baggies, who could more than use the funds if they end up taking the relegation plunge.
Manager Alan Pardew has already made it known that he’s anxious he could be without Evans anchoring his backline – probably since Man City made an £18m offer for the Northern Irish star in August.
A move to Arsenal could end up being an impromptu defender swap, as a move to the Hawthorns has been rumoured for the Gunners’ right-back Mathieu Debuchy.