Arsenal and Man Utd to clash in January transfer battle over star who turned down Arteta in the summer

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Arsenal and Manchester United are set to go head to head over one highly-rated January transfer target.

Mikel Arteta is considering adding a new goalkeeper to his Arsenal ranks in the upcoming winter transfer window.

The Gunners did sign Neto on loan from Bournemouth in the recent summer transfer window, as a replacement for Aaron Ramsdale, who moved on from the Emirates Stadium to join Southampton.

Neto is yet to make his debut for the North London club, and is very much only at Arsenal to provide back up for David Raya. However, the 35-year-old will bring some useful extra experience to the dressing room.

Neto was given a warm welcome to Arsenal, after supporting director Edu Gaspar forced through his signing when it looked as though the Gunners were in danger of failing to replace Ramsdale at all before the summer transfer deadline passed.

Arteta still only has two senior goalkeepers in his squad, in Raya and Neto, which has already proven something of an issue this season. 16-year-old shot-stopper Jack Porter was handed a record-breaking debut the Gunners’ EFL Cup clash with Bolton Wanderers, as Raya was injured and Neto arrived already cup-tied in that competition.

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Arsenal and Manchester United eyeing Sam Tickle

Arteta now has another goalkeeper in his sights, in Wigan Athletic’s Sam Tickle.

However, as reported by TeamTalk, the Gunners may well face competition from Manchester United for his signature this January.

Arsenal have shown interest in Tickle before, having been linked with the 22-year-old in the recent summer transfer window. However, the ‘keeper seemingly turned down the opportunity to make the switch to North London then.

Tickle has been enjoying regular football so far this season, impressing in League One with the Latics, having kept seven clean sheets in ten league outings so far.

As per the aforementioned report: “Gunners scouts have continued to keep tabs on Tickle’s progress,” since failing to land his signature in the summer.

Would Tickle want to join Arsenal?

Whilst the appeal of signing one of the brightest goalkeeping prospects in the country, from Arsenal’s perspective, is obvious, there are also clear reasons why Tickle himself may be reluctant to make the move. 

Tickle would certainly play second fiddle to Raya at the Emirates Stadium. Whereas, whilst it is at a far lower level in the English football pyramid, Tickle is currently playing regular football and excelling whilst doing so.

Perhaps the only way Arteta could convince the England under-21 international to join Arsenal is by promising him loan moves away from the club to allow him to keep playing senior football regularly. Of course, this would not solve the Gunners’ existing problem of only having two senior goalkeepers to call upon.