Five players who could join Arsenal in January

Stuart Telford

• 7 Dec 2023 05:54 CST
• 4 min read

Arsenal are top of the Premier League, six points clear of champions Manchester City, but they'll need to do some January shopping if they want to stay there…

Arsenal spent big last summer, dropping more than £200 million on the likes of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, and whilst their impacts have varied, the net result has been impressive.

Rice, in particular, has become the envy of the other Premier League giants with his assured performances in central midfield, but Mikel Arteta wants to bolster his squad after coming so close to dethroning City last season.

FootballTransfers looks at five of the most likely January arrivals at the Emirates…

Ivan Toney

The Gunners have scored a league fourth-best 33 goals, but their most prolific attackers Bukayo Saka (five goals, six assists) and Martin Odegaard (four goals, two assists) midfielders by trade. Eddie Nketiah has matched Saka's five goals, but the club still feel they could sign a bona fide No.9.

Brentford's Ivan Toney would fit the bill. The recent England cap hit 20 goals in 33 games last season before being hit with a gambling ban, but will be available again from 17 January. It is understood Chelsea are also tracking the 27-year-old.

Marcos Leonardo

Another potential striker alternative is Brazilian wonderkid Marcos Leonardo, who's availability has increased following Santos' historic relegation to the second tier in Brazil. That fate wasn't for the want of Leonardo's output, the 20-year-old scoring 13 Serie A goals in 2023.

Real Madrid represent major competition for Arsenal in his pursuit, but sporting director Edu and a Brazilian contingent at the Emirates that includes Gabriels Jesus, Martinelli and Magalhaes are understood to be key to their chances.

Douglas Luiz

Another Brazilian on the Gunners' radar is Douglas Luiz, who has been shining at the heart of Aston Villa's midfield. As exclusively reported by FootballTransfers collaborator Steve Kay, Villa would want £110 million for his services.

Such a fee might make a January transfer less likely, but Arsenal are likely to test the water as they look for a defensive midfield partner for Rice, and will wait until the summer if his current employers hold firm.

Jeremie Frimpong

Arsenal are also in the market for a right-back with Takehiro Tomiyasu injured and Ben White a centre-back by trade, even if he has performed admirably in the position for the last season and a half. Jeremie Frimpong is top of their shortlist according to Kay.

The recent Netherlands cap is currently flying high with Bayer Leverkusen, his four goals and five assists helping them to the top of the Bundesliga, but Die Werkself are a selling club and they would struggle to say no if his €53.4m valuation was met.

Dusan Vlahovic

Last but by no means least it Dusan Vlahovic, who nearly joined Arsenal in January 2022 before electing to swap Fiorentina for Juventus instead. Another striker, his arrival might prohibit Toney's if not Leonardo's.

At 23, Vlahovic fits the age profile of players Arsenal are looking to sign, and the Gunners reportedly believe they could get him for cheaper than the fees required to bring Toney, or Napoli's Victor Osimhen, to North London.