Arsenal are one of a number of sides expected to be busy during the January transfer window as the Gunners look to reinforce their squad for the rest of the season. While there's still over a month until the market reopens, plans are being drawn up everywhere over signings and targets for when it finally opens.
For Mikel Arteta, the window will come straight after his side make a return to Premier League action in late December after the World Cup break. That month-long hiatus is at a time where Arsenal are in their stride, sitting top of the league and with a five-point gap on Manchester City in second.
Although with that break moving them closer to the transfer window, it could be a blessing in disguise after Arteta admitted his squad was light on numbers. “That’s the squad that we have and we have to try to utilise the squad in the best possible way," the Spaniard told reporters after his side were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton.
READ MORE: Shakhtar Donetsk chief drops huge Arsenal transfer hint amid Mykhaylo Mudryk January 'offer'
“We know where we are and we knew the moment we had certain injuries that the squad is already very, very short,” he added. There may be a few areas that Arteta could point towards for further signings, with the midfield and wide areas being two that are issues once injuries hit.
According to Fabrizio Romano, it's the latter that could be solved as the reporter claims that Arsenal's transfer priority is Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk. The Ukraine international has impressed over the past few months on both the international stage and in the Champions League and has been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.
It's led to plenty of interest, though the youngster has continually dropped hints over his desire to make a move to North London over anywhere else.
That could well be matched with a move as Romano told GiveMeSport: "I think the main priority is Mudryk. The player they want is Mudryk. It’s about the price because Shakhtar have been really strong in negotiations for more than a year. They want big money for Mudryk & it is not easy.”
While it remains to be seen if the Gunners will make their move, the Athletic claims that Shakhtar are holding out for around £87million to let Mudryk leave, potentially throwing a major problem into the equation for a deal.
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