Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta plots transfer trick repeat as Chelsea muscle in

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Arsenal’s January transfer window is yet to come to life. One thing we’ve learned from winter windows in recent years is Gunners bosses are unlikely to give into the temptation by splashing money on arrivals midway through a season.

Aside from Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho and Leandro Trossard , they have rarely done so, much to Mikel Arteta’s frustration at times . But this season is a different story as the north Londoners are well-stocked following a huge summer of spending in 2025 , which has allowed them to reach the top of the table both domestically and in the Champions League .

Yet, with their pursuit of four trophies still alive, that doesn’t mean Arsenal are necessarily resting on their laurels, with sporting director Andrea Berta instead using this time to draw up plans for the summer transfer window.

Arsenal’s next challenge is an away trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon, before a visit to Inter Milan next week. While there is a growing consensus that there will be no incomings or outgoings in N5 this month, Mirror Football examines two of the latest transfer stories involving Arsenal.

One exciting name that has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium recently is Real Madrid ’s Arda Guler. Fabrizio Romano reported last September that the Gunners have held long-term interest in the Turkish midfielder, dating back to the summer of 2024.

Guler began the season as a key player in Xabi Alonso’s Los Blancos side but his form and involvement have diminished lately, with his place in the team uncertain under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa, according to ESPN .

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It's suggested Arsenal will keep an eye on his situation from now until the summer before making a move. Arteta has shown he is capable of poaching out-of-favour wonderkids from under Real Madrid’s noses in the past, having done so with Martin Odegaard in 2021.

Before Odegaard, Guler’s idol Mesut Ozil and Dani Ceballos also moved from the Bernabeu to north London in search of game time. The same report credits the Gunners with an interest in 20-year-old Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza too.

Arsenal have been repeatedly linked with 20-year-old Rennes talent Jeremy Jacquet in recent months. Berta is said to be a fan of the French central defender, with the Gunners keeping tabs on his progress despite their already-impressive defensive unit.

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But Jacquet’s displays in Ligue 1 have made him one of the most hotly pursued youngsters in Europe, with Chelsea now reportedly joining the race to sign him. Given their defensive struggles, Jacquet is more likely to start for the Blues than Arsenal, potentially giving them the upper hand if it comes down to choosing between the two London rivals.

Chelsea hijacking their pursuit of Jacquet would come as a blow, given that transfer target Marc Guehi is now also expected to join rivals Manchester City in a £20m deal.

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