The January transfer window is edging nearer, so let’s have a look at the players Arsenal are most likely to bring in.

A report from Football.London on Wednesday took a look at the areas of the pitch Arsenal might try to improve in the winter window, and listed the five most likely additions to the squad. Let’s have a look at each one and the latest rumours on the possibility of them making the switch to North London.

Cristian Pavon

• Age: 22
• Position: Winger
• Contract until: 2022
• Club: Boca Juniors
• Estimated transfer value: £18m

Back when links to Pavon first emerged in January 2018, there was a suggestion that Boca Juniors would only consider selling a year later in January 2019, once their Copa Libertadores run had come to an end.

Holding on to their star winger worked wonders, as Boca Juniors made a run to the final, the second leg of which takes place this Saturday (24th November). After that, win or lose, Pavon has fulfilled his commitments to the club. Therefore, he’d be entitled to ask them to consider letting him leave if the right offer comes in.

Football.London claim Raul Sanllehi has already held talks with Pavon’s club over a possible move, and January is the perfect time to make it happen.

The Copa Libertadores runs from March to November, whilst the Argentine league runs from August to May, so there’s some overlap whichever way you look at Pavon’s stats. To keep it simple, since August 2017 the winger has 11 goals and 19 assists in 46 club appearances.

A top dribbler and chance creator, Pavon could certainly add something to Arsenal in wide areas.

Click ‘Next’ for the rest of the 5 most likely January additions

Pablo Fornals

• Age: 23
• Position: Attacking Midfielder
• Contract until: 2022
• Club: Villarreal
• Estimated transfer value: £22.5m

Arsenal are reportedly considering a £17.8m move for Pablo Fornals as links with the player surface again.

Arsenal have been linked with Villarreal’s Pablo Fornals for some time now. In fact, he was once named as a possible Santi Cazorla replacement long before we even knew Santi would be leaving. Football.London write that Arsenal scouts have been watching him on a regular basis for some time now.

The midfielder has a £17.8m release clause according to this latest report and that has caught the attention of Arsenal who are said to be prepared to meet it.

An established first-team regular with Malaga before paying his own release clause of £10m to join Villarreal in 2017, he has three goals and two assists this season in 17 games.

An attacking midfielder with a strong shot from distance who is able to hold onto the ball well and loves a tackle, Fornals currently wears the number 8 for Villarreal, a shirt number that will seemingly become available at Arsenal in the summer.

Click ‘Next’ for the rest of the 5 most likely January additions

Nicolas Pepe

• Age: 23
• Position: Right Winger
• Contract until: 2022
• Club: LOSC Lille
• Estimated transfer value: £22.5m

The media have linked Pepe to Arsenal pretty heavily in recent weeks and months. Those links have only got stronger since the season got underway, with the winger scoring eight goals, providing six assists and winning multiple penalties for his side as well, in 14 appearances so far.

With Danny Welbeck’s injury, Arsenal are reportedly being forced to ‘rethink’ their January transfer plans, and they could move for Pepe sooner rather than later. The player himself recently admitted it was ‘good’ to be linked to the likes of the Gunners, Bayern and Dortmund.

Despite Football.London’s claims that Arsenal will chase the winger in January, the spanner in the works is that Pepe’s incredible start to the season has made his club very hesitant to sell. Lille president Gerard Lopez and vice-president Marc Ingla have both spoken publicly to say that, in principle, they don’t want to sell before the summer.

We’ll see if Arsenal can change their minds but, for now, let’s look at some alternative options.

Click ‘Next’ for the rest of the 5 most likely January additions

Sebastian Walukiewicz

• Age: 18
• Position: Centre-Back
• Contract until: 2020
• Club: Pogon Szczecin
• Estimated transfer value: £180k

Sven Mislintat’s team are scouting Sebastian Walukiewicz ahead of the January transfer window, according to recent reports.

Pogon Szczecin defender Walukiewicz is just 18 years old, but he’s reportedly already drawing the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs. Football.London write that Mislintat has identified the Polish u20 international as a potential addition to Unai Emery’s squad, but Barcelona and Southampton are also watching the youngster.

Walukiewicz has made 12 starts this campaign for Pogon Szczecin in the Polish first tier. Even though the league isn’t nearly as competitive as some of the best in Europe, for his age that’s still pretty impressive.

If Sven Mislintat is interested, that’s a good sign too. He brought Konstantinos Mavropanos to the Premier League from the Greek Superleague last season and, other than his recent injury problems, that seems to be going pretty well.

Click ‘Next’ for the rest of the 5 most likely January additions

Reiss Nelson

• Age: 18
• Position: Winger
• Contract until: 2019 (on loan)
• Club: Hoffenheim
• Estimated transfer value: N/A

Finally, Football.London report that Arsenal might consider the option of cutting Reiss Nelson’s loan spell short. Ideally, the Gunners would prefer him to stay in Germany for the full season. However, if they can’t bring in anyone else, recalling Nelson could be an ‘appealing option’, reportedly.

With an impressive six goals in just seven league appearances (four starts), Nelson is showing just how quickly he’s adapted to life at senior level. They’ve all been important goals as well, either giving Hoffenheim the lead, drawing them level or getting them back into a game from multiple goals down.

Despite one or two performances showing he still has room to improve, Nelson is undoubtedly having a massive impact for Hoffenheim every week. If Arsenal’s alternative January options fail, he would make a good backup plan.

Follow this link if you want to check out Football.London‘s roundup yourself.