Arsenal scrap Martin Zubimendi transfer plan for £45.8m Man City and Liverpool target

Arsenal have reportedly identified a new midfield transfer target ahead of the January window.

The Gunners have just over a month before they are able to enter the transfer market for new signings when the window opens in the New Year.

Mikel Arteta added six new faces to his squad in the summer, along with the move for David Raya from Brentford being made permanent.

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The summer saw Arsenal heavily linked with signing either a new striker or midfielder, with Mikel Merino added to the squad from Real Sociedad in a deal worth up to €37.5million (£31.2million).

Rumours about a potential new striker continue to swirl, while Arsenal are also being credited with an interest in signing another midfielder after the move to bring Merino to the Emirates Stadium.

According to Caught Offside, Arsenal are considering a move to sign Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton. The report claims that the Gunners will have to battle Manchester City and Liverpool for the 20-year-old's signature.

It has been reported that Arsenal are weighing up making an offer to sign Wharton in January, which would be just a year after he left Blackburn Rovers to sign for Palace. Wharton has made 10 appearances for Palace this season, but has missed the last three Premier League fixtures with a groin injury.

Arsenal are apparently ready to offer €55million (£45.8million) to sign Wharton, which would be below the price tag of €65million (£54million). The interest in Wharton comes after the Gunners were previously linked with signing Martin Zubimendi.

The Real Sociedad star was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in 2025, with Arsenal mentioned as a potential destination last January and in the summer. Liverpool also made an attempt to sign Zubimendi in the summer, while recent weeks have suggested that Man City are also in the running.

It's unlikely that Arsenal would want to sign both Wharton and Zubimendi in the same window, after agreeing to spend more than £30million on Merino just a few months ago. It remains to be seen, though, if Wharton has leapfrogged Zubimendi as the Gunners' priority midfield target.