Arsenal are running out of time to sign a midfielder in the January transfer window.
The Gunners currently lead the Premier League by five points after a stellar first half of the season, winning 16 of their 19 league outings, losing just once in the process. During the winter window, technical director Edu has bolstered Mikel Arteta's squad, bringing in Belgian attacker Leandro Trossard from Brighton and Polish defender Jakub Kiwior from Serie A side Specia.
However, the north London club are still short in the middle of the park, especially with Mohamed Elneny currently sidelined with a knee problem. “We need some more cover in midfield ideally if we can,” Arteta said when on Wednesday when asked about potential business before the window slams shut.
READ MORE: What Oleksandr Zinchenko did to Jakub Kiwior after Arsenal win vs Man Utd ahead of £21m transfer
“In this market it’s pretty complicated to do that. The most important thing is that we get the performances and the time on the pitch that we need with the players we have available today that are already really good.”
One player that has been linked with a switch is Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, who has established himself as one of La Liga's best midfielders in recent times and The Times have now revealed how much it would cost Arsenal to sign the Spaniard. Their report claims that Sociedad are adamant that any suitor must meet Zubimendi's £53million release clause, a transfer that would make him the third most expensive in the Gunners' history.
If Arteta was able to bring the 23-year-old to the Emirates Stadium, he would be getting an extremely talented player if former Liverpool and Real Madrid man Xabi Alonso is to be believed. “Martin’s a player all coaches would want", Alonso, who coached Zubimendi during his formative days previously said.
"He’s generous, he always thinks more about his teammates than himself. He has that ability to generate play, to make those around him better, always offering solutions; to improve the move.
"He understands what the next step is before the ball gets to him. He has the ability to organise, the axis. I loved working with him.”
Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo and West Ham United captain Declan Rice have also been mooted as potential targets, although it looks like signing either one of those this month will be particularly difficult.
READ NEXT:
Arsenal can repeat Leandro Trossard trick by completing two-year transfer plan to sign £22m star
Arsenal make clever £18.5m transfer move to secure Premier League title advantage over Man City
Xhaka forfeit, Arteta and Odegaard battle as new Arsenal signing trains ahead of Man City clash
Find the footballs on the football.london website to win cash prize, vouchers and TV worth £3,000
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
