Raheem Sterling makes Arsenal future decision as Matheus Cunha links intensify
Arsenal are keeping the pace in the Premier League title race with a recent win over Ipswich Town at the Emirates Stadium.
Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game in the first half on Friday night to move the Gunners six points behind league leaders Liverpool, who still have one game in hand. With fixtures to come against Brighton and Brentford in the coming week, a victory was imperative to ensure the Merseyside club's points cushion is kept to a minimum.
The January transfer window will also open in a matter of days, which will provide teams across the division with one final chance to improve their playing squads ahead of the second half of the season. Leandro Trossard and Jorginho are among the names Arsenal have signed mid-way through a campaign in recent years, although it remains to be seen whether the north London club will enter the January market this time around.
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READ MORE: Arsenal may be step closer to sealing first January transfer amid Bukayo Saka injury concern
With that being said, football.london have taken a look at the latest transfer news and rumours from in and around the Emirates...
Raheem Sterling makes Arsenal future decision
Raheem Sterling has endured a difficult start to life at Arsenal following his loan switch from Premier League rivals Chelsea in the summer. The winger has featured just 11 times for the Gunners in all competitions this term, as injuries have hampered his game time at the Emirates Stadium.
However, despite some suggestions his loan spell could be cut short, the most recent update from The Athletic indicates the player has no desire to end his time in north London early. It has been claimed a return to Chelsea has been ruled out at this stage, while Sterling himself is confident he can have a positive impact on Arsenal's title charge in the second half of the season.
Mikel Arteta has also recently addressed Sterling's lack of minutes, putting it down to tactical reasons. Although, like Sterling, the manager has also expressed a desire to see the 30-year-old push on in the latter stages of the campaign.
football.london says: It's no surprise to see some speculation surrounding Sterling's future given his lack of minutes in an Arsenal shirt. However, it's fair to say he endured a similar situation at Chelsea and he wouldn't exactly be first choice there, either. There's little reason to cut the move short when Arsenal are still battling on all fronts and there will be plenty of opportunities between now and May. Arsenal would also be naive to let him go given the mounting injuries in wide positions.
Matheus Cunha links intensify
Perhaps part of the reason Sterling's future has been thrown into doubt is the links with Wolverhampton Wanderers forward, Matheus Cunha. A report from The Telegraph on Boxing Day revealed the Gunners hold a strong interest in the Brazilian, but prising him in January will likely be a tall order due to Wolves' struggles at the bottom of the table.
It has been suggested Arsenal's interest has been sparked by Saka's recent injury, with depth desperately needed in forward areas if the England international is to be sidelined for any extended period of time. However, another recent update, this time from TBR Football, suggests Cunha himself will not push for a move midway through the campaign.
The 25-year-old will likely field plenty of interest from a number of clubs in the summer, so there is little need to push through an exit. The article even goes as far as saying the player's camp have already informed the hierarchy at Molineux of the player's intention to remain at the club, at least until the season draws to a close.
football.london says: Cunha has been in fine form for Wolves this season and has essentially been the solitary bright spark in what has otherwise been an abysmal campaign for the Midlands club. Arsenal's reported interest is no surprise for that reason, while it seems Saka's injury may prompt the club to act in January in a bid to provide cover at such a crucial point of the season. However, it's unlikely they will land their primary targets when selling clubs also have so much at stake. Not that stopgap signings should ever be encouraged, but if Arsenal's options are limited, they may have little choice.