Oh how to be an Arsenal supporter during transfer windows with Arsene Wenger’s team more stubborn than most when it comes to free-spending and strengthening of the playing staff.
In truth, the Gunners have struck early this time with a deal for Mohamed Elneny seemingly hours away from completion but with that move having taken a little longer than usual to come to fruition, our resident Arsenal fans are probably the most impatient bunch of the lot!
Having seen their side decimated by injuries throughout November and December, Arsenal have been down to the bare bones but the likes of Mathieu Flamini and Joel Campbell have stepped up admirably to keep the Gunners on top of the Premier League table.
That said, any further injuries and it could prove curtains for the men from North London who really need some of their injured stars back sooner rather than later if they are to see the job through in the second half of the season.
While Elneny is a start, many Gooners would like to see their side really put down a marker in signing another two players.
While that is unlikely under the current regime, it of course doesn’t stop the tabloids from churning out a long list of targets that Arsenal are reportedly close to signing up.
With that in mind, we’ve identified a five-man shortlist of Arsenal transfer rumours we simply can’t see coming to fruition this month.
[ffc-gallery]
Click on the image below to reveal the five Arsenal January transfer rumours that can be ruled out.
[/ffc-gallery]
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
A lot of Arsenal fans had gotten hot under the collar late last month at the news that Borussia Dortmund had reportedly named their price for prolific forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
With the fee amounting £42 million, many everyday football fans were claiming their club should go out and snap up the newly crowned African Player of the Year for that Mesut Ozil-sized price.
But were Dortmund ever really going to part with their prized asset at any price considering they’re battling for Champions League qualification at the minute, and in January too?
Well all hopes seem to have been dashed now with quotes from the horse’s mouth claiming an Arsenal move ISN’T on the agenda.
Aubameyang claimed recently: “Let me say this first: I am not going to Arsenal. Dortmund is my club and I am not leaving soon.”
Time to put this one to bed once and for all Gooners?
Granit Xhaka
A fresher Arsenal rumour has recently involved this man, Borussia Monchengladbach’s Swiss international midfielder Granit Xhaka.
One of the most highly-rated midfielders in the Bundesliga for a little while now, the rumours of an Arsenal switch have been sparked by the player’s father who has claimed his son will see what develops this month.
While Xhaka is a good player who could strengthen Arsenal’s midfield, we just can’t see Arsene Wenger swooping for two box-to-box midfielders in one transfer window with Elneny arriving already.
While Mathieu Flamini, Tomas Rosicky and Mikel Arteta are expected to leave in the summer, we don’t think Wenger will demote the trio that much with Xhaka’s addition while they’re still on the books.
Troy Deeney
While Troy Deeney has experienced a fantastic first ever season in the Premier League so far this term, the Watford striker’s links to Arsenal this week were met with their fair share of laughter here by the bar.
An exclusive from the Daily Star, the Hornets hitman was linked with a £20 million switch to Emirates Stadium this month but is Arsene Wenger really going to pay nearly double the price he paid for a better all-round finisher in Olivier Giroud?
Enough said.
Lorenzo Insigne
On New Year’s Day, The Telegraph claimed Arsenal were battling it out with Paris Saint-Germain in the race to sign Napoli’s hot property Lorenzo Insigne.
Undoubtedly an exciting talent, we just don’t think Arsene Wenger is in the market for a wide man at all this winter.
While Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott have missed chunks of the season through injury so far, the Gunners still have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joel Campbell to deputise and in fairness, that pair have done well on occasions.
Insigne is probably more of a realistic target for the summer although even then, surely the Gunners would need to dispose of a Danny Welbeck or somebody else to make room?
Javier Hernandez
Finishing our shortlist is a man reborn, Bayer Leverkusen’s Javier Hernandez.
Leaving Manchester United with his tail between his legs in the summer, how the Red Devils could do with the Mexican international’s predatory instincts in the box right now with Louis van Gaal’s team struggling for regular goalscoring sources.
Chicharito has been a revelation for Bayer, striking 11 times in his opening 14 Bundesliga appearances.
This form prompted the likes of The Mirror to weigh in on some Hernandez to Arsenal rumours with Alexis Sanchez reportedly endorsing the move.
That said, are Bayer really going to give up on someone such as Hernandez who at the mid-point of this season is almost single-handedly carrying the fight?
