Three players Arsenal could target to substitute injured Gabriel Jesus in January transfer window
If Arsenal did not consider prospective attacking reinforcements during the January transfer window, they may very well do so now.
Gabriel Jesus’ injury has turned the upcoming transfer window on its head and could prove decisive in the Premier League title fight.
The Arsenal forward has been ruled out for the remainder of Brazil’s World Cup campaign after suffering a knee injury against Cameroon.
Jesus’ eight goals have been instrumental in Arsenal’s best Premier League start of the season.
Initially, football.london stated that the striker would miss only three to four weeks of action including the Gunners’ Boxing Day match against West Ham.
However, indications from Brazil indicate that the injury is more severe than initially believed, and he may be sidelined until at least March.
Even though Eddie Nketiah is an internal option and Folarin Balogun might be recalled from his loan at Stade Reims, the temptation to enter the transfer market next month would be strong.
While the Gunners are likely to wait until the summer to sign a high-profile attacker, there remains an opportunity to acquire an additional goalscorer to prevent a decline in performance.
Here, SportsDias examines five potential targets for Mikel Arteta and Edu:
Marcus Thuram
Thuram’s contract with Borussia Monchengladbach ends at the conclusion of the current campaign, therefore the German club may be compelled to accept a bid if one is offered. Arsenal has been linked to the French forward for some time but will face competition for his services.
According to reports, Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich have offered Thuram a ‘lucrative’ five-year contract for the upcoming summer, following their pattern of signing their rivals’ top players. The player does not appear to have a strong desire to move to Bayern Munich, leaving the door open for Arsenal.
Thuram appears unlikely to extend his stay at Gladbach, therefore Arsenal may be able to convince them to sell the striker for a low price next month.
Mehdi Taremi
Taremi, a striker for Porto, was connected with a summer transfer to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, but the move never materialized and he remained in Portugal. In 115 games for the Portuguese champions, the 30-year-old has scored 62 goals and assisted 43 more. He has been linked with a transfer away from the club.
The Iranian has scored the same number of Champions League goals as Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski this season, helping Porto win Group B ahead of Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen. Since he was eliminated from the World Cup after scoring twice against England, his market value has improved, and he could transfer in January.
His contract expires in the summer of 2024, and he has not yet made a decision regarding his future at Estadio do Dragao. Taremi possesses a great deal of expertise and would be a perfect short-term option for bringing goals to north London.
Noah Okafor
Okafor’s performances for Red Bull Salzburg have piqued the curiosity of numerous elite teams, making him one of Europe’s brightest prospects. Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea have all joined the Gunners after being impressed by his 13 goals this season.
Prior to Okafor’s World Cup appearances for Switzerland, Salzburg reportedly placed a £30 million price tag on their striker, which was justified. Since joining from FC Basel, the 22-year-old has contributed to 54 goals in 100 matches. Quite remarkable.
However, the Swiss forward appears to be a more long-term acquisition. Jesus is only 25 and Nketiah is only 23, thus the Gunners’ attacking line lacks experience. Despite Nketiah’s strong goal-scoring form at the close of last season, it may be frowned upon to bring in another player younger than 23.
Three players Arsenal could target to substitute injured Gabriel Jesus in January transfer window
