Arsenal transfer news: Gunners ‘trying like mad’ for striker as pre-contract agreed

Arsenal remain desperate to land a new striker before the January transfer window closes with Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha on their radar whilst Kieran Tierney has ironed out his future

Arsenal have been involved in a lot of transfer chatter throughout January but are yet to get any business done.

The Premier League hopefuls need to close the gap on Liverpool and new additions would help their cause, especially with a growing injury list. Mikel Arteta has made it clear he wants – and is trying – to land new recruits over the coming week or so.

Time is running out for the Gunners with a new frontman very much their priority. Arsenal do not have a prolific striker in their ranks and that has cost them at times this season. Getting quality in midseason can prove challenging and the north Londoners are yet to find their man.

Here’s the latest from the Emirates.

Tierney secures exit

Kieran Tierney has signed a pre-contract agreement with Celtic and he will return to Scotland once his Arsenal deal expires. The Gunners had made it clear that the defender, who was signed back in 2019, would not be offered a new contract to remain.

Tierney was allowed to talk to clubs about moving as a free agent with clubs from overseas and Premier League outfits keen, but he opted secure a return to Parkhead, reports the Telegraph. However striking a deal with the Scottish champions could complicate his short-term situation. There had been talk of Tierney making a move in January but he may now have to wait several months before heading to the Hoops.

Last term Tierney was sent out on loan when it became clear that his opportunities were going to be limited. He headed to Real Sociedad, where he was a regular, and is now back in north London.

Gunners “trying like mad” to land striker

David Seaman says Arsenal are doing everything they can to land a new striker before the January transfer window shuts. Benjamin Sesko was the club’s first-choice target back in the summer before the Slovenia signed a new contract with RB Leipzig. But that interest has been reignited this month in the hope that a deal can be done.

Seaman having spent more than a decade on the Arsenal books as a player knows first hand that work is ongoing behind the scenes. He told talkSPORT: “Everybody is talking about signing a new striker and that does look like what we need. It looks like we’re trying to get a striker but to get a marquee striker, the finished article, in January… that doesn’t happen very often.

“I know for a fact that they’re trying like mad to get one but whether it will be now or the summer, I don’t know. There’s ones in the pipeline so we will have to wait and see if they get done.”

Wolves set Cunha price

Wolves frontman Matheus Cunha has been linked with Arsenal all month but they are one of five teams in the hunt. Nottingham Forest have emerged as serious players and they are ready to make a club-record bid for the player.

Sky Sports report that Wolves would sell for £60m, should they receive an offer of that size. Knowing that could change Arsenal’s plan with the Gunners capable of reaching that figure should they wish. Meanwhile Forest’s current club-record signing is Elliot Anderson at £35m.

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