da cassino online： Christmas has unfortunately come and gone, which can only mean we’re a matter of days away from the official opening of the January transfer window.
da betsul： Admittedly, it’s been a bit of an anticlimax in recent years with few big-money deals going ahead. But amid a Premier League season not quite like any other, where Leicester City are apparently title contenders and Chelsea are nervously looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone, something tells me January 2016 will buck the trend.
That goes double for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger, a notorious January window sceptic. He’s never been fond of the winter market but amid the Gunners’ most convincing title bid for the best part of a decade, Le Prof is almost certain to try and strengthen his squad next month.
Likewise, a number of situations require his attention on the outward front as well. So with that in mind, here are the FIVE transfer issues Wenger must look to resolve in January…
JOEL CAMPBELL – SHOULD HE STAY OR SHOULD HE GO?
Joel Campbell has proved himself an expedient member of Arsenal’s squad in recent weeks, providing two goals and two assists in the Premier League and Champions League combined, but his Emirates future remains shrouded in serious doubt.
Indeed, the Costa Rica international’s contract expires at the end of the season, meaning January is Arsenal’s last chance to cash in before losing him for nothing in the summer – or at best a relatively small compensation fee.
A number of Premier League clubs have been linked with Campbell over the last few years, so the 23-year-old could fetch the Gunners a decent profit.
But Arsene Wenger is clearly fond of the young winger so a contract extension is by no means out of the question – it’s just a matter of Le Prof making his mind up before the transfer window slams shut.
A TOP-CLASS GOAL SCORER – IS THERE ONE AVAILABLE?
Although few are disappointed with Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott’s combined contribution of 13 Premier League goals, Arsenal must act if a top class goal scorer becomes available in January.
Mesut Ozil has dominated the Premier League’s creation charts this season with an incredible 16 assists and a finisher of the Sergio Aguero variety would probably be notching up a hat-trick every week with that kind of service.
Of course, the January transfer window is never the easiest time to buy and that could prove to be Arsenal’s undoing. Few clubs are actively looking to offload guaranteed goal scorers midseason and those who are available – such as West Brom’s Saido Berahino – aren’t particular improvements on what the Gunners already have.
That being said, a top-class striker would immeasurably improve Arsenal’s title credentials for the second half of the campaign, so Wenger and his transfer henchmen must keep their ears to the ground.
Failing that, the north London outfit could always activate Gonzalo Higuain’s £67million release clause – but that seems pretty unlikely.
LOAN SPELLS FOR IWOBI AND BIELEK?
We’ve seen Alex Iwobi impress in small doses this season, but big clubs rarely find time to field youngsters during the business end of the campaign – especially if they’re pushing for the Premier League title.
The 19-year-old is yet to leave the Emirates so a loan spell away could hugely aid his development now that he’s got five senior appearances under his belt – not to mention two caps for Nigeria.
Likewise, the prodigious ability of Krystian Bielik is often heralded but even amid Arsenal’s recent injury crisis, the defensive midfielder’s participation this season has been limited to a single outing in the Capital One Cup.
Aged just 17, a loan move perhaps isn’t as much of a priority. But once again, plenty of clubs would be prepared to take the former Legia Warsaw starlet off Arsenal’s hands and the experience of a loan spell would only improve his chances of making it into next season’s senior squad.
SIGN MOHAMED ELNENY OR A LIKEMINDED ALTERNATIVE
With Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Francis Coquelin all potentially out until late February, it’s imperative Arsenal sign a central midfielder in the January transfer window and preferably as soon as possible.
It is perhaps not essential but most would prefer to see an out-and-out defensive midfielder join the Gunners ranks, who can provide a similar kind of service to the aforemented Coquelin in front of the back four.
According to reports, the north Londoners are already in talks to sign FC Basel’s Mohamed Elneny, who is valued at around £5million. The 23-year-old has claimed three Super League titles with the Swiss outfit and has impressed in the Europa League this term, netting twice in five outings.
Should the deal fall through, however, Arsenal must find a likeminded alternative ASAP. That could require targeting some more established options such as Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender and Sporting Lisbon’s William Carvalho, who have been on the club’s radar for some time.
WHAT BECOMES OF DAVID OSPINA AND MATHIEU DEBUCHY?
Arsene Wenger will be incredibly reluctant to weaken Arsenal’s squad depth halfway through their most convincing title bid for the best part of a decade, but it seems almost macabre to keep players at the Emirates against their will.
David Ospina, for example, more than proved he deserves to be a No.1 at a decent club during the second half of last season, helping the Gunners claim third place in the Premier League and an FA Cup with a series of impressive individual performances.
But he’s not seen the light of day since Petr Cech’s arrival in the summer and has resultantly been linked with a move away, with Turkish outfit Besiktas believed to be particularly keen. But Wojciech Szczesny and Emiliano Martinez are out on loan already – so an injury to Cech could leave Arsenal desperately short between the sticks.
Mathieu Debuchy, on the other hand, the Gunners could probably afford to lose. The France international has managed just 22 appearances since signing from Newcastle two summers ago and is desperate to guarantee better playing time ahead of Euro 2016 on his home soil.
With Calum Chambers and Francis Coquelin as potential back-up and Carl Jenkinson set to return from his West Ham loan spell in the summer, Arsenal could probably part with the 30-year-old next month without too many serious consequences.