Arsenal Coach Mikel Arteta has turned down the prospect of spending significant amounts of money in the January transfer window.
The Gunners have committed £140m for six summer signings as Arteta embarks on an overhaul of his squad with Aaron Ramsdale, Nuno Tavares, Takehiro Tomiyasu, White Ben, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Martin Odegaard all go to Emirates Stadium.
– ESPN FC 100: Introducing the top male players and managers of 2021
– Daily ESPN FC live stream on ESPN+ (US only)
– No ESPN? Instant access
The club have five players approaching the final six months of their existing contracts, the most famous of which is the striker Alexandre Lacazette, who hinted at an exit when speaking to France’s Telefoot last month by claiming “my agents are now looking a little left and right, but not before Janaury.”
Arteta alludes to the complexity of this and other situations – Eddie Nketiah is also out of contract next summer and is close to moving in Crystal Palace in the summer – when asked if backers can expect a big splash from new players in January.
“We are in discussions, we have weekly talks about it: how can we improve the team, what could happen in the January transfer window that could affect the squad ours,” Arteta said on Wednesday morning.
“As you know, we have some players that have been a bit unstable in the summer, so we have to plan for what will happen now and what will happen in the summer. It has to be done as well. a lot of work.
“We know and we don’t expect big things to happen but we’ll be very alert in the market to see if we can improve the team. And we also have to be prepared because things can happen. can happen, injury arises in this. time and you have to be prepared.”
Calum Chambers, Mohamed Elneny and Sead Kolasinac are the other three players whose contracts expire at the end of the season that Arteta hopes will end up in the Champions League for Arsenal.
The Gunners, who are fifth in the Premier League, will aim to make a remarkable step towards that goal when faced off. Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
Arteta confirmed Bukayo Saka is a fitness doubter with a thigh problem during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle.
