Arsenal told they made correct transfer decision after ‘dangerous’ £39m deal emerged

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Arsenal chose not to recruit anyone in the January transfer window, despite claims that they needed to reinforce their attack.

Mikel Arteta’s side ended 2023 badly, with back-to-back losses against West Ham and Fulham derailing their title challenge, and there was a real struggle for goals as they could not finish their chances as a collective.

Several strikers were linked over the January transfer window, but financial fair play issues meant that Arsenal’s budget was limited, making moves for the likes of Ivan Toney unviable.

Early on in the window, reports emerged that Arsenal were considering a move for Getafe striker Borja Mayoral, and even had a bid rejected, with his club valuing him at £39m.

Nothing came of it since, and transfer expert Andy Brassell has now claimed that Arsenal were right not to pursue him in a panic.

Arsenal right not to panic over Borja Mayoral

Speaking on Sky Sports News, Brassell claimed that signing Mayoral would have been a mistake, and Arsenal did well to avoid panicking in the January window over their goal struggles.

“I always felt that January was going to be a bit dangerous for them because, of course, they were going through this dry spell in front of goal,” he stated.

“So, everyone goes, ‘The window going to open. Let’s go and buy a striker’. And you are thinking, ‘Hang on, who is really out?’

“Ten 10 days in, and you are talking about, ‘Why don’t you go and get Borja Mayoral from Getafe?’

“A guy who is not good enough for Roma, a guy who is not good enough for Real Madrid, but does the business at Getafe and maybe at £25 million, he could move the needle for Arsenal. It would have been a terrible idea.”

Mayoral could have prevented a future Arsenal signing

Arsenal’s stance in January transfer windows has typically been that if the right player cannot be found, then none would be brought in.

Last January Mikel Arteta brought in Jorginho, Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior, as players who could improve the depth in his squad and have an instant impact. This time around, the club felt there was no one who could help solve Arsenal’s scoring issues who could be brought in for a reasonable fee.

Mayoral is a player who has performed well this season, but the 26-year-old would not have been a level-raising signing, and his reported price tag would have meant a huge-money summer deal for a target such as Victor Osimhen could have been prevented if he was to join.