Arsenal

Wenger Draws-up Four-Man January Shopping List With Huntelaar & Reina Top Targets

Arsene Wenger has drawn-up a four-man short-list as he prepares to try and salvage Arsenal’s season by dipping into the transfer market in the January window.

by
Football Talk
December 4, 2012

Despite the transfer window being closed, there is always transfer gossip doing the rounds in the papers and we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest news during the coming months. Today, Arsene Wenger has drawn up a four-man short-list for January.

Arsene Wenger has drawn-up a four-man short-list as he prepares to try and salvage Arsenal’s season by dipping into the transfer market in January, according to the Daily Mail.

The Gunners currently sit 10h int eh Premier League table after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Swansea making it Arsenal’s worst start in the Frenchman’s era at the club. Wenger has confirmed he will have funds to buy when the window re-opens in January and the Mail claim he has already identified his targets.

Top of his wish-list is Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who has been watched extensively by Arsenal scouts in recent weeks. Wenger has spoken in depth with chief scout Steve Rowley over the player, and has made his mind-up to make a move this winter.

Huntelaar is out of contract in the summer and despite Schalke’s attempts to tie him down to an extension, the 29-year-old seems likely to move on and could be available for as little as £6m next month. However, Liverpool and Tottenham are also in for the former Real Madrid man and will fight Arsenal all the way for his signature.

Wenger will also aim to bring Gunners legend Thierry Henry back to the club for a third time on a short-term loan deal to cover for Gervinho while he’s away with the Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations.

The two remaining players who make-up Wenger’s most wanted list are Crystal Palace starlet Wilfried Zaha and Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Arsenal will open the bidding for Zaha with a £9m offer but the Londoners will face stiff competition for the 20-year-old with several Premier League clubs tracking the highly-rated attacker.

Wenger is also in the market for an expereinced goalkeeper who can push Wojciech Szczesny for the No.1 jersey and is poised to move for long-term target Pepe Reina, but whether Liverpool will be prepared to sell remains to be seen.

Would Arsenal fans like to see Huntelaar, Henry, Zaha and Reina come to the club in January? Get involved in the comments section.