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After getting off to a nervy start to the season, Arsenal have clawed their way back into the race for the top four. Mikel Arteta's men have played some entertaining football this term and their young brigade has shown a lot of promise.
Arsenal are looking for reinforcements in the January transfer window
However, there are quite a few worrying signs for the Gunners as we enter the second half of the season. None of their centre-forwards are yet to score an away goal from open play in the Premier League this term. They also have issues in defensive midfield.
They are reportedly looking to bolster their squad this month. Arteta and co.'s objective is to secure a top four spot and they will need to bring in reinforcements in order to achieve that.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five players Arsenal could sign in the January transfer window.
#5 Denis Zakaria (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Arsenal have a long-standing interest in Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria. They were heavily linked with the Swiss international in 2019 before signing Dani Ceballos on loan from Real Madrid.
According to German outlet Fussball Transfers, Arsenal have already contacted Borussia Monchengladbach to sound out a deal.
Zakaria is an all-action midfielder whose contract expires this summer. The club have confirmed that he will not be extending his deal with the club. Borussia Monchengladbach are ready to offload him in January for a cut-price deal.
Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in the 25-year-old. The combative midfielder's reading of the game and ability to progress the ball are qualities that Arsenal need in the center of the pitch. In 15 Bundesliga appearances this term, Zakaria has scored two goals and provided an assist.
#4 Yves Bissouma (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Yves Bissouma is one of the most efficient defensive midfielders in the Premier League right now. He has garnered interest from most Premier League giants and Brighton are resigned to the fact that they might not be able to hold onto him for long.
The Seagulls have slapped a €59 million price tag on the 25-year-old. The Gunners have been linked with Bissouma. However, they will need to fend off competition from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, who are also monitoring the player.
The Malian international ranks fourth among all Premier League players for tackles made (50) this Premier League season. He ranked second for the same (104) last season.
He is excellent at winning the ball back, is a neat passer of the ball and is good at carrying the ball and beating opponents with his deft touches and burst of pace.
#3 Bruno Guimaraes (Olympique Lyon)
Arsenal have some long-term planning to do with respect to their midfield. Granit Xhaka's future is uncertain after his latest antics. The pair of Mohamed Elneny and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are tipped to leave the club in the summer.
Bruno Guimaraes is reportedly at the top of Mikel Arteta's wishlist for January. According to Get French Football News, Lyon are ready to reach an agreement to offload the Brazilian international in two different ways.
They are ready to sell Guimaraes outrightly in January for a fee of €45 million. Lyon are also willing to send Guimaraes on loan for the remainder of the season as long as there is an obligation to buy him in the summer on Arsenal's part.
#2 Arthur Melo (Juventus)
Arthur Melo was doing well at Barcelona and Miralem Pjanic was thriving at Juventus when both players were forced to trade places in the summer of 2020. It has to go down as one of the worst swap deals in recent history as the moves haven't worked out for any of the parties involved.
Arthur Melo is now looking to leave Juventus and Mikel Arteta is reportedly keeping an eye on him. A mass exodus is expected to happen at Juventus with Massimiliano Allegri keen to put together a more cohesive side.
Melo is a technically adept holding midfielder who can add a bring a lot of creativity to Arsenal. Goal Italy claims Arsenal are now close to sealing a deal for the Brazilian. The Gunners are looking to sign him on loan for the remainder of the season before making the move permanent in the summer.
Arsenal are also reportedly ready to pay his wages in full. However, the Bianconeri won't let Arthur leave until they secure a replacement.
#1 Dusan Vlahovic (Fiorentina)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has become a peripheral figure at Arsenal after getting dropped due to disciplinary issues. Alexandre Lacazette has not been among the goals for a while now and both centre-forwards are expected to leave the club in the summer. The Gunners are thus looking for a striker who can be at the club for the long-term.
Fiorentina centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic has been turning heads with his performances this term. The Serbian international scored 33 goals in 2021, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's record for most goals scored in the Serie A in a single calendar year.
The 21-year-old is reportedly valued at around €80 million and the Gunners are reportedly ready to break the bank to sign him in January. There are several contrasting reports. Some suggest that Vlahovic wants to stay at Fiorentina until the end of the summer.
Some claim he is holding out for an offer from one of the Serie A outfits as he would prefer to stay in Italy. The 22-year-old has scored 18 goals and provided three assists in 22 appearances across all competitions for Fiorentina so far this term. He is the current top scorer in Serie A this season.
