Arsenal can now gift Mikel Arteta three bargain transfers to solve Bukayo Saka issue
Arsenal need to move in the January transfer window if they are to overtake Liverpool in the Premier League title race in the second half of the season.
Following the injury to Bukayo Saka before Christmas, the Gunners are short in attack. Mikel Arteta is limited in his selection and it's expected the club will do their best to sign a new attacker.
The winter window always comes with issues over selling clubs demanding premium fees for players they don't really want to sell. Much of work done this month will be reactionary to Saka's injury and the problem in attack underlines the long-term issue.
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In the summer, Arsenal will be expected to be in the market for a centre-forward. Whatever happens in the remainder of this campaign, the north Londoners face investing heavily in new firepower.
However, they could improve Arteta's attack without spending a penny on transfer fees. Now that the January transfer window has opened, the Gunners can negotiate with players with just six months left on their current deals due to pre-contract registration.
The list of players whose contracts are set to expire in June is topped with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold. But on that list, there are three players who have been of interest to Arsenal in the past.
Leroy Sane and Jonathan David have both been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium. Neither player has committed their futures at Bayern Munich and Lille, leaving them open to agreeing a deal elsewhere.
Bayern's Joshua Kimmich has also entered the final six months. The Germany international is another name linked with Arsenal in the past with his versatility to play in midfield and right-back an appealing factor.
Arsenal are able to agree a pre-contract deals with players outside the Premier League in January with them arriving once their current deals expire. All three are expected to be attracting interest while their current clubs attempt to tie them down to a new contract.
With FFP rules limiting how much clubs can spend in January, something that could limit Arsenal, agreeing free deals for the summer could be the perfect avenue to go down.