LATEST UPDATE: The club director has officially outlined Arsenal’s transfer plans for a striker, which involve pursuing Ollie Watkins, securing Mathys Tel on loan, and completing a double signing. Ahead of the formal announcement expected later today, Arsenal’s first January signing has already arrived in London.

Arsenal’s January Transfer Window: Watkins Chase, Mathys Tel Interest, and Possible Departures

As the January transfer window nears its conclusion, Mikel Arteta and his team are gearing up for what could be a frantic final few days. Arsenal, who have had a relatively quiet window up to this point, are reportedly aiming to bring in as many as four new players before the deadline.

The club’s primary target remains Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins. Arsenal is believed to have tabled a £45 million offer for the England international, but Villa quickly turned it down. Watkins recently underlined his value with a standout display in Villa’s 4-2 Champions League victory over Celtic, a performance that only strengthened Arsenal’s resolve to sign him.

Both managers, Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta, have spoken about the ongoing situation without offering much clarity.

Arteta, in particular, has chosen to keep future transfer activity under wraps. Nevertheless, Arsenal remains eager to complete a deal for Watkins before the window closes, although several challenges persist.

A significant hurdle involves Watkins’ teammate Jhon Duran, who is on the verge of finalizing a £64 million transfer to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Aston Villa is hesitant to lose both of their frontline strikers in the same window unless they can bring in a replacement.

Chelsea’s Joao Felix has emerged as a possible option for Villa, and their final decision on Watkins could depend on whether Duran’s move goes through and if they succeed in signing a suitable alternative.

Meanwhile, Arsenal is also monitoring Bayern Munich’s promising forward Mathys Tel. The 19-year-old has drawn attention from several top English clubs, including Manchester United, Tottenham, and Chelsea. Spurs have reportedly shown willingness to pay £50.2 million for a permanent deal, but Tel himself might be more inclined towards a switch to the Emirates.

Having missed much of the season through injury, Tel is reportedly keen on securing more consistent minutes, something Arsenal could offer, especially with injuries to key attackers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus. Arteta is expected to rotate his squad carefully, with Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Kai Havertz all featuring prominently.

On the departures side, Raheem Sterling’s loan stint at Arsenal has been underwhelming. Although Arteta dismissed rumors of an early return to Chelsea, any move for Tel could influence that decision. Additionally, young striker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji may head out on another EFL loan, with a permanent exit possible in the summer.