Three players who could leave in January

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Three Arsenal players who could leave in the January transfer window


By Oli Dickson-Jefford


The January transfer window is upon us and it could be a busy month or so at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta will likely want to improve his squad further over the next few weeks to help Arsenal in their fight for a top-four finish this season.

However, it is not only incoming players that Gunners fans will be keeping an eye on in January with some players potentially heading elsewhere.

We take a look at three players who may be saying farewell to the red side of North London this transfer window.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

It is hard to see what future Aubameyang has at the Emirates after the past couple of weeks.

Up until a few weeks ago, he was the club captain but he was unceremoniously stripped of that title due to ill-discipline and has been sidelined ever since.

The Gabonese striker has not even made the squad for the past six matches and bridges seem to have been burned with Arteta, who has been critical of his former captain’s behaviour.

That recent controversy coupled with Aubameyang’s drop in form in the past few months could mean that his time at Arsenal will be coming to an end sooner rather than later.

He will be away from the UK this January as part of his country’s squad for the African Cup of Nations, meaning we could have well seen the last of him at the club.

It looks incredibly likely that he will leave, but his next club is up in the air with no obvious destination coming to light.

Alexandre Lacazette

Arsenal could be losing two of their leading strikers in January with Lacazette also likely to move elsewhere.

The Frenchman has seen his playing time reduced recently and with the emergence of the likes of the much younger Gabriel Martinelli, his place in the starting XI is under increasing pressure.

Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

His contract runs out at the end of the season and considering his decreasing playing time and influence, he will probably not be offered a new deal

It seems likely that Lacazette will be sold this January so the club can make some money from his departure, rather than letting him go on a free transfer.

With Atletico Madrid and Newcastle United reportedly interested in the 30-year-old, it would be a surprise if he is still at the club in the near future.

Rob Holding 

After joining the club in 2016, Holding signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal at Arsenal back in January 2021 but he may also be on the move shortly.

The Englishman was a regular in Arsenal’s back four but a defensive revamp this season has changed that.

Strong performances by Gabriel and Ben White means the 26-year-old is now usually on the bench, having made just four league appearances this season.

Barring injuries for those in front of him, it is hard to see him breaking back into the starting XI and considering he still probably has a good decade ahead of him he may look elsewhere.

Rob Holding

That deal signed last January means Arsenal would likely recoup a decent fee if they sold Holding who is reportedly being targeted by Premier League opposition.

As with Lacazette, Newcastle are reportedly interested in signing him to strengthen their defence in a push for survival, while other clubs in the league would be interested in a player like him.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Popular posts from this blog

What have we learned from Arsenal's pre-season so far?

Image
  Arsenal – what have we learned from pre-season? By Jack Lacey-Hatton It only feels five minutes since Euro 2020, but incredibly we are just one week away from the new Premier League season starting. Arsenal will travel to newly promoted Brentford for a London derby in front of a noisy crowd next Friday night, not the easiest of starts to the new campaign. But what sort of shape are Mikel Arteta’s side in, going into what could be a defining season for the manager? We took a close look at what we have learnt from the pre-season period and what kind of shape the squad are in.   The new signings are ready to go It has been a mixed transfer window so far. Some fans would have expected more both leaving and arriving at the Emirates stadium over the summer. But positives can be taken - Ben White has arrived from Brighton for £50million, and highly-rated full back Nuno Tavares has come in from Benfica. Albert Sambi Lokonga completes the 2021 summer singings so far. Cruc...
Read more

Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves

Image
Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves By Jonny Bray It is hard to believe that Ruben Neves is still only 25-years-old.   It feels as if the Portuguese international has been tipped for big things for nearly a decade now.  With the midfielder out of contract in 2023, it appears his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers could be coming to an end.  Understandably, with a player like Neves on offer for a reduced price, clubs around Europe are queueing up to secure the international's signature.  So, after all this time, should Arsenal move for Ruben Neves now, or is it time for the Gunners to turn their attention to a new target?  What would he bring?  Arsenal do not have enough defensive midfielders.  Martin Ødegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka give Mikel Arteta plenty of midfield options going forward, but the Gunners have been found lacking when out of possession this season. Thomas Partey has been in and out of the side due to injuries, a fact that has not hel...
Read more

Where will Arsenal finish this season?

Image
Where will Arsenal finish this season? By Alec McQuarrie Arsenal have made steady improvement over the last few seasons under Mikel Arteta. After finishing 8th in his debut season, the Spaniard oversaw a five-point improvement in his first full campaign.  And last year an eight-point leap followed, which was unfortunately not enough to pip Tottenham to fourth place.  Cruelly, the 69 points accumulated would have been enough to seal Champions League qualification in the previous two seasons.  Looking at the trajectory over the Arteta era, it would be fair to assume a continued improvement this coming season.  After all, with five signings already secured this summer and Alexandre Lacazette the sole first-team player to depart, surely fourth place should be a bare minimum expectation.  Oleksandr Zinchenko offers much-needed cover at left-back and competition for central midfield.  Gabriel Jesus is a proven goalscorer and brings a tireless work-ethic to fulfil...
Read more