As the January 2026 transfer window rolls into its second week, the football world’s gaze has fixed firmly on Arsenal, whose transfer activity—or, more accurately, the lack thereof—has become a hot topic among fans and pundits alike. While the Gunners have yet to announce any new arrivals, the rumor mill is spinning at full tilt, with manager Mikel Arteta hinting that the club remains alert to opportunities that could strengthen the squad for the second half of the Premier League campaign. Arsenal enter this pivotal period perched atop the league, with the tantalizing prospect of extending their lead to eight points if they can overcome Liverpool in tonight’s high-stakes clash at the Emirates.
Transfer speculation has swirled around a host of big names, with Arsenal reportedly tracking Real Madrid’s Arda Guler, PSG’s Bradley Barcola, and RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande. The Gunners’ interest in Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi has also been well documented, though a move for the England international appears more likely in the summer, given the complexities of the January market and fierce competition from Manchester City, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, speaking candidly earlier this week, addressed the mounting speculation surrounding Guehi’s future. "I'm not naive. If a massive offer comes from City and Marc wants to do it, it will happen. If you're just valuing sports, everyone in the club will say Marc has to stay. The chairman will tell you the same. But it's not one-dimensional. If you see the financial situation, it's very important. If somebody comes, there will be a moment when the club says 'now the financial issue is more important than the sports issue.' There will be a threshold where the club has to say it will happen - as long as Marc says 'I want to leave', because the final decision is always with the player," Glasner explained. Yet, following Palace’s draw with Aston Villa, he struck a more reassuring tone for Eagles supporters: “I think Marc will stay. But if Marc says ‘I want to leave’, and a club pays massive money – with five months left of a contract – every player will leave if you’re playing for a club like Crystal Palace. Right now, when I see him playing, when I see him training, when I see his commitment and when we are talking quite often together, then I think the fans can be really be calm but you never know what will happen in football.”
Arsenal’s pursuit of Guehi is far from straightforward. David Ornstein of The Athletic has outlined that the Gunners’ interest is long-standing, but their preference is to wait until the summer to make a move, potentially hoping to secure the defender on a free transfer. That strategy carries risk, as Manchester City, in the midst of a defensive injury crisis, are weighing up a January swoop, while Liverpool and Bayern Munich lurk with intent. The competition is fierce, and the outcome is anything but certain.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s recruitment team is casting a wide net. Reports suggest the club has submitted a bid for Blackburn’s highly rated England Under-18 forward Igor Tyjon, who has rejected a new contract at Ewood Park. A modest fee of around £1 million is expected to be enough to bring the youngster to North London. The Gunners are also said to be monitoring Corinthians midfielder Breno Bidon, though Sporting CP are leading the chase with a €15 million (£13 million) offer on the table. As for PSG’s Bradley Barcola, Arsenal are among several elite clubs—including Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool—keeping tabs on the dynamic winger, who tallied an impressive 31 goals and 33 assists in 121 games during PSG’s treble-winning 2024/25 season. Barcola’s contract runs until 2028, making any potential deal a complicated affair.
The Gunners’ interest in Real Madrid’s Arda Guler is another storyline to watch. The 20-year-old midfielder, who has notched three goals and eight assists in 26 appearances this season, is reportedly open to a loan move, though any short-term deal could include a hefty €90 million (£78.2 million) option or obligation to buy. With Guler’s role at Real Madrid diminishing as the season has progressed, Arsenal could be poised to pounce if the right terms can be struck.
Arsenal’s transfer ambitions are not limited to established stars. The club is locked in a tug of war with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Real Madrid for Rennes’ 20-year-old defensive prodigy Jeremy Jacquet, who signed a contract extension until 2029 last May. An offer in the region of £25 million to £35 million might be enough to lure him away from Ligue 1, but with so many heavyweights circling, the outcome is up in the air. The Gunners are also tracking RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, with reports suggesting a fee of £86 million could be required in the summer. However, Leipzig have made it clear they have no intention of sanctioning a January sale, with Diomande’s contract running until 2030.
In the midst of all this transfer intrigue, Arsenal’s youth movement continues apace. Young midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, who burst onto the scene last season, has attracted interest from Bournemouth, who are hoping to secure him on loan as they look to replace outgoing winger Antoine Semenyo. Despite limited minutes this term, Nwaneri is said to prefer staying at the Emirates, according to The Independent. Elsewhere, academy product Myles Lewis-Skelly has also drawn admiring glances from other clubs, though his future remains undecided.
Financially, Arsenal could be in line for a windfall this January. Corriere dello Sport reports that former Gunner Nuno Tavares is on the verge of a move away from Lazio, just months after making his switch to Serie A permanent. Arsenal reportedly included a 25% sell-on clause in the deal, meaning any transfer fee recouped by Lazio could bolster the Gunners’ transfer kitty—a timely boost as the window heats up.
On the pitch, Arsenal’s focus shifts to tonight’s Premier League showdown with Liverpool. The Gunners have the chance to go eight points clear at the top after Manchester City stumbled against Brighton. Midfielder Declan Rice, speaking ahead of the match, rallied the home supporters: “It’s a massive game. We need the Emirates to be on it again. We’re unbeaten at home, we need to go out there and give it everything we’ve got. The energy needs to be right, we need to transmit that energy on the pitch, give them the right reason to cheer and to push us on. It’s one at a time, it’s just another one down off the Christmas schedule and hopefully we can get another win and keep pushing on.”
Manager Mikel Arteta, for his part, remains upbeat about his squad depth, even as injuries to key players like Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori, and Cristhian Mosquera continue to pose challenges. Havertz is close to a return after a lengthy absence, while Calafiori and Mosquera are progressing through the final stages of rehab. Arteta is also confident that Eberechi Eze, who has struggled for minutes lately, will reach new heights in the coming months: “His level of desire has gone even higher. The way he trains every day, the way he wants it and wants to do everything it takes to change my mind and give him more minutes, has been phenomenal. That is not easy. It is easy to expect it. But with the level of players we are talking about, that is not easy. I am very confident we are going to see a great version of Ebs in the coming months.”
With transfer rumors swirling, injuries to manage, and the league title within reach, Arsenal’s January is shaping up to be anything but quiet. The Gunners’ next moves—both on and off the pitch—promise to keep fans and rivals alike on the edge of their seats.
