Gilberto Silva discloses what he has heard about Arsenal’s January transfer plans
Gilberto Silva seems to have indicated that Arsenal is actively seeking to bolster their midfield as a top priority during the upcoming January transfer window.
Concerns about Gabriel Jesus‘ durability have fueled speculation that Mikel Arteta might make a concerted effort to acquire a new striker.
While Ivan Toney, whose eight-month ban for violating betting regulations is set to end, was initially identified as a key target, the likelihood of a deal seems remote due to Brentford’s steep £80 million valuation and competition from Chelsea.
Nevertheless, Arsenal’s focus now seems to be shifting towards reinforcing their midfield.
Arteta’s attempt to replace Granit Xhaka with Kai Havertz hasn’t yielded positive results so far this season, prompting the club to prioritize strengthening their engine room.
The recent fitness setback for Thomas Partey has increased the pressure on both record signing Kai Havertz and Jorginho, especially considering Jorginho’s contract has just over eight months remaining.
Although experienced Egypt international Mohamed Elneny has successfully returned to full fitness after a year out, his contract is also set to expire at the end of the current campaign.
Furthermore, Elneny is expected to be called up for the Africa Cup of Nations in January, further complicating Arsenal’s midfield situation.
Arsenal has been associated with a potential transfer for Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa, a player they tried to acquire 14 months ago, but their efforts were thwarted when he opted to renew his contract for the long term.
“I heard that they were maybe looking for some midfielders especially because of Partey being injured at times,” Silva told Mirror Sport at the Web Summit in Lisbon, where he was promoting his new hate-free football social media platform, Striver.
“I’m not sure if it’s 100 per cent going to happen but obviously, they have to be aware that this is a very short window and very specific.
“You have to be like a fisherman sometimes, to grab the right player that you really need that’s going to help you to win games and to be useful for the rest of the season. Also to improve the way you play.
“It’s not about sometimes bringing a player because you need [them]. Speaking to people there, Edu many times, they are working hard to have the data and what they think is right for the club in terms of targets.
“The market is very competitive as well, sometimes you have to be fast and not lose the opportunity.”
Gilberto Silva discloses what he has heard about Arsenal’s January transfer plans
