Arsenal want a winger as cover for Bukayo Saka in the January transfer window, but they’re likely to look at loan options this winter.

John Cross reports for the Mirror that Arsenal want a winger in the January transfer window, but they’ll have to be creative in their approach.

The report claims the Gunners are likely to look at loan options in the winter market, as the players they’ve been linked with on permanent deals would cost a significant amount – especially in the January window.

Pedro Neto is one of those Arsenal are reported to be after at the moment, but Cross suggests Wolves surely wouldn’t sell in January.

This somewhat echoes a report from David Ornstein for The Athletic last week, where he suggested that Arsenal are working on strength in depth on the wings, but there are no guarantees on when that work will come to fruition.

At this stage, there are still a number of factors that could alter whether Arsenal pursue a move for someone like Neto in January or next summer.

The current links to Neto elsewhere in the media are likely more to do with the player’s form at the moment than anything else.

Neto has made a strong start to the season, providing four assists and scoring once in his opening seven games.

It only makes sense that his agent would start to offer him around, and that the media would put a greater focus on a potential transfer. But neither Cross nor Ornstein are yet convinced that a January move is on.