Journalist names one thing Arsenal ‘have to’ do if they are to land key January target

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Journalist James McNicholas has explained what he believes Arsenal need to do in order to land their January targets.

Arsenal have been linked with a number of potential targets ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.

According to The Mirror, the Gunners are lining up a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney.

The Mirror have also reported that the north London club are keeping close tabs on Wolves winger Pedro Neto.

Neither of the aforementioned options would come cheaply. Given that Arsenal spent heavily in the recent summer transfer window – including paying a club-record fee of £105 million to secure the services of Declan Rice – it has to be questioned whether the club still have the financial firepower to get these deals over the line.

Mikel Arteta may have to be prepared to make some sacrifices if he is serious about getting one, or both, of these transfer deals done.

Arsenal will need to generate funds

Arsenal expert and The Athletic reporter James McNicholas believes the club may need to sell in order to buy in January.

Speaking on the Arseblog Extra podcast, he said, “I would say that I think Arsenal would have to sell someone pretty significant in January to spend that kind of money [on Toney or Neto].”

“If you think about the final incoming deal we did in the window, it was the David Raya deal and how we had to structure that, I’m not sure a great deal has changed since then to mean that we could go out and spend that sort of money freely but who knows.”

Arsenal signed David Raya on a season-long loan deal from Brentford, though it is expected that they will convert the goalkeeper’s move into a permanent one for a fee of £27 million.

The deal for the Spanish shot-stopper was structured in such a way so that the Gunners could spread out their spending a little.

If they are to now go back into the market, they will likely need a sale to fund any purchase they make. There aren’t many candidates amongst the first team squad at the Emirates Stadium who could be considered both surplus to requirements, whilst still holding enough value to make them a worthwhile selling asset.

Hale End academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe is perhaps the most likely player to make way for a January incoming.