The January transfer window will be one of the most highly-anticipated at Arsenal in some years. The business conducted by the Gunners in recent windows has brought the feel good factor back at the Emirates Stadium with a number of good deals.
The Gunners have reaped the rewards from the work Edu has done behind-the-scenes at London Colney with Mikel Arteta's men top of the Premier League after 14 games. The 2022/23 season is temporarily on pause due to the Qatar World Cup but when domestic football resumes on Boxing Day, all eyes will be on Arsenal ahead of their first title race in six years.
Next month has been heavily discussed as a colossal opportunity for the club to bolster Arteta's squad to give them every chance of competing with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. football.london understands that a new central midfielder and winger are the priorities ahead of the window opening but Gabriel Jesus' absence could alter that.
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While there is expected to be plenty of names tipped to join Arsenal over the Christmas period for an immediate move, the winter window provides clubs a chance to plan for the future. Rules mean that clubs are able to enter negotiations with overseas players with six months remaining on their contract.
This means that Arsenal can begin talks with players whose contracts at their current club expire at the end of June. Should talks go well, pre-contracts can be agreed ahead of a summer move at the end of the players' current deal. And there's an array of talent entering the final six months of their deals.
With that in mind, here's five players who Arsenal could potentially agree to a pre-contract with next month.
Evan Ndicka
Arsenal have been linked with Eintracht Frankfurt defender Ndicka for some time. Reports last week suggested that a move had been agreed with the Frenchman over a move in the summer.
A regular for Frankfurt, the left-footed centre-back fits the bill perfectly for Arteta - who favours having naturally left-footed and right-footed centre-halves playing on their relevant sides. Ndicka's future in Germany has seemed in doubt since rumours linking him to the Premier League began.
Rivals Tottenham have also been credited with interest but Antonio Conte looks set to miss out on the defender. Still only 23, Ndicka still has so much potential to grow into and a move to England can help him fulfil that potential.
Memphis Depay
After Jesus' knee injury ruled him out for a number of months, there's no surprise that reports linking Arsenal with Barcelona's Depay have re-emerged. The arrivals of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha along with injuries have seen Depay pushed out of the starting XI and he could leave Spain in next month's window.
It's understood that no formal negotiations over a possible move in January have started, with it being unclear how much Barcelona will request for the Dutch striker. But with his deal expiring in 2023, Depay could be a case of being patient to land his signature.
Since his move from Lyon, Depay has struggled to replicate the same form he showed in France and with PSV. However, like Jesus, the striker has become renowned for his nature of picking up deeper positions to free up space for the wide attackers to cause trouble in.
Thomas Lemar
A name that seems to always be linked with a move to north London, Atletico Madrid's Lemar looks finally set to leave Diego Simeone's side this summer after failing to agree on a new deal. It was reported in the summer that Arsenal had been offered the chance to sign the Frenchman after missing out on Raphinha, but the deal never materialised.
An attractive feature of Lemar is his natural ability to take up a number of positions on the pitch. Previously a natural winger on the left, the 27-year-old has slotted into Atletico's midfield in previous seasons - a priority for Arsenal.
The Gunners look on course to qualify for the Champions League this term and any additions of recent history in the competition. Lemar has played 57 games in the competition across his time with Atletico and AS Monaco.
Daichi Kamada
Frankfurt may get sick of the sight of Arsenal by the time the January window closes. Alongside Ndicka, Japanese international Kamada has attracted interest from some of Europe's biggest teams after his fine season.
Kamada has scored 12 goals in 22 games for the Bundesliga side this campaign, already surpassing the nine he netted last season. And after his eye-catching outings for Japan in the World Cup, his future at the Deutsche Bank Park looks in doubt with Spurs also keen,
Earlier this season, Kamada provided an update on his future. "I’m staying in Frankfurt this season. Even if there could be talks with other clubs in winter, I’m not interested in leaving immediately."
Marco Asensio
Back when Asensio was one of Real Madrid's most under-rated stars, not many in the football world would have predicted that his deal at the Bernabeu would be allowed to run down. But here we are and the Spanish forward looks certain to end after nine years at the club.
Reports this week from Spain have insisted that the European champions are willing to let Asensio go in January to raise funds for their bid to lure Jude Bellingham to Spain. After never making an official move in the summer, Arsenal may be tempted to make a move for Asensio next month to secure a very impressive free transfer.
Turning 27 in January, Asensio can be utilised out wide or in the No.10 meaning he'll be welcome competition to the current crop of attackers in north London. It's certainly one to keep an eye on.
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