David Ornstein believes Arsenal are trying to get one or two loan signings in and a few out before the January transfer window comes to an end.
Arsenal have already been pretty busy on the loan front so far this window – if nothing else.
They’ve extended Ben Sheaf’s loan with Doncaster, recalled Eddie Nketiah and Dejan Iliev. Nketiah and Iliev should go on loan again to new clubs imminently. Then they’ve sent Tyreece John-Jules, Emile Smith Rowe and Konstantinos Mavropanos out.
Incomings
Nothing on this front so far. David Ornstein told The Ornstein and Chapman podcast the most likely source of additions to Mikel Arteta’s squad is the loan market.
“Arsenal are looking to make one or two loan signings during this January transfer window,” Ornstein said. “They’re not close on any of them just yet, I’m afraid. It would be a maximum of one to two loans, from what I’m told.
“My information was that one of those positions they’re looking to fill is left centre-half with a loan deal. There are also suggestions possibly of a central midfielder and maybe somebody to cover in the full-back areas – with the injuries they’ve got there.”
Ornstein went on to explain that Arsenal still prefer the summer window for permanent moves. They’re also still feeling the financial effects of a big window last summer. As a result, they don’t have a lot of flexibility to continue spending big within their means.
Outgoings
We already covered Ornstein’s comments on the possibility of a loan for Eddie Nketiah this window. However, the journalist also suggests there could be a few more outgoings in January.
“There may be a couple of other loans out of Arsenal, not particularly high-profile,” Ornstein continued. “It will be interesting to see what happens with someone like Shkodran Mustafi. But at the moment, no move for him is close either.”
Mustafi is struggling to even make it into the Arsenal squad at the moment. After that disastrous final 10 minutes against Chelsea, he dropped out of Arteta’s 18 completely. He certainly looks like the most likely senior player to leave this month.