Mikel Arteta offers transfer update with Arsenal ‘not expecting big things’

Arsenal have been linked with a number of defenders this month
Reuters/Eddie Keogh
James Olley9 January 2020

Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal are unlikely to make any marquee signings in the January transfer window.

The Gunners have been linked with a host of players including defenders Dayot Upamecano and Jerome Boateng as they begin to reshape their squad following Unai Emery’s sacking at the end of November.

Arsenal have been quoted £70million by Red Bull Leipzig for Upamecano while Bayern Munich are keen on a deal for Boateng if a club is prepared to buy out the final six months of his contract worth approximately £195,000-a-week.

However, the club are working with a modest transfer budget having committing around £138m in transfers including £72m record-signing Nicolas Pepe from Lille and Wiliam Saliba, who will join from Saint-Etienne at the end of the season.

And asked if he was expecting significant investment this month Arteta said: “I don't know, I'm not expecting big things.

“I'm expecting big things from the players I have at the moment, the players that are recovering from injuries. That's the biggest expectations from my side, they're there. If we can find something to help us go through the season in a more balanced way in certain areas, and is helpful, we'll look at the options.”

Earlier this week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang distanced himself from speculation he could leave the club in January – stating his love for the club in his programme notes before Monday’s FA Cup win over Leeds United – but rumours persist he is reluctant to sign a contract extension with his current deal expiring in 2021.

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However, Arteta insisted the club were yet to open talks with the striker over a new deal.

“We haven't discussed that,” he said. “But I'm confident that he's very happy here because that's what he said in the media.

“My intention is to keep Auba obviously because I know that if we keep Auba with us, we're going to be stronger and closer to winning football matches. That's the only thing.

“I was very pleased to read those comments. He knows exactly what I think about him and obviously he's a massive player for us. But at the moment we're in the middle of the season and we haven't discussed anything further on that at the club.”

Hector Bellerin will miss Saturday’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace as he continues his recovery from a hamstring problem.

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