I really hope that Arsene Wenger’s comments the other day about how hard it was to find good quality players available in the January transfer window, at the same time as praising the Arsenal left back Nacho Monreal on his ability to cover at the centre of defence does not mean that us fans are in for more frustration in the transfer market.
Assuming that the manager has not changed his mind, however, and still accepts that the Gunners are dangerously short of defensive options, it will be interesting to see which player, or players, the Frenchman goes for in January to strengthen his squad.
Arsenal have been linked with Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund, which would be great, but he is one of the best defenders in the world and would cost a fortune, if Jurgen Klopp could even be persuaded to sell him halfway through a season.
Then we have been linked to experienced Premier League players like Ron Vlaar and Winston Reid, who both have contracts due to run out next summer. But there is also a theory that Wenger will look to the future and sign a promising young defender and of these, I think Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk seems the most likely.
His manager Ronny Deila, however, knows there is interest in his young centre back and so has warned potential suitors like Arsenal, as reported by Talksport, that the talented young Dutchman will not come easy or cheap.
The Celtic boss said, “It will not be a surprise for me if there is interest in Van Dijk in January, but he will be very expensive.
“Van Dijk is a fantastic player who keeps on improving and I hope he stays with us.”
Apart from Hummels, who we all would love to see at Arsenal, which player do you want and which do you think Wenger will target?