10 Potential Transfer Targets For Arsenal

With the January transfer window in full swing and Arsenal being linked with a whole host of players, Gunner333 gives us the 10 players that he feels the club could target.

The Transfer Window’s open so let the speculation begin! With Arsenal now flying high at the top of the league few fans would feel the need to delve into the transfer market, but there’s always room for improvement. Here are ten top players scattered across the globe, who I feel would benefit our side at present.

10) Artem Dzyuba – FC Rostov

Currently the top goal scorer in the Russian Premier League with 12, Artem has the full-package which would surely help fire us over the finish line. Clinical, fast and strong he has the desired pedigree of a top striker, and at the age of 25, still has much to give. While he could prove to be an astute purchase, he lacks the Premier League experience and maturity which would render him as a ‘prime target’.

9) Salomon Rondon – Rubin Kazan

Another potential Russian export comes in the form of former Malaga front-man, Salomon Rondon. At the height of 6′ 1″, he would certainly supply more physicality up-front, making him a perfect back-up for Olivier Giroud. He may have netted the four times already this season but, despite travelling across Europe, once again lacks the experience of playing in England’s top-flight.

8) Daryl Janmaat – Feyenoord 

If you are a frequent reader of Arsenal transfer stories, you would have almost definitely heard this name before and rightfully so. Daryl is a Dutch right-back who, like Rondon, stands at 6′ 1″. Janmaat possesses incredible attacking ability for a defensive player and would be more than capable of chipping in with the odd goal or two, should he arrive at the Emirates.

Although we already have both Sagna and Jenkinson available, the Dutchman supplies the position with another dimension, and he could be the ideal replacement if Sagna fails to sign a contract extension. In my opinion, the 24-year-old would be a fantastic addition.

7) Sven Bender – Borussia Dortmund

Previous attempts to land his twin Lars have been speculated about, but I feel Dortmund’s holding player would be an even better option. We may be spoilt for choice in the midfield department at present, but Sven is a solely defensive-minded player and seldom ‘drifts’ out of position. His stability in the centre-of-the-park should make him a top target and he also has Champions League experience under his belt. Bender could be the long-term replacement for Mikel Arteta.

6) Vedad Ibisevic – Stuttgart

Vedad has been something of a late developer as he’s only really started to show his true potential in recent years, despite approaching his 30th birthday. He’s a proven finisher, scoring 8 in 10 for country Bosnia, as well as notching up 113 goals in 275 career appearances to date. The 29-year-old made the move from Hoffenheim to Stuttgart at the beginning of last season and has a goal to game ratio of better than 1 every other game, so he certainly knows where the goal is.

5) Rubén Castro – Real Betis

A vital player at his current club Castro may be, but at 32 he’s coming towards the end of his career and we might bag him for a bargain as a short-term solution up front. Scoring over 130 goals in his club career, the Spaniard has bags of experience. He can play across the whole front-line and is a great option if Wenger is looking to save the pennies but add an extra striker to the side.

4) Morgan Schneiderlin – Southampton

The highly thought-of French midfielder has been in excellent form in the middle for Southampton over the last 18 months and he has that all-important Premier League experience many managers look for. If he came to North-London he would likely be viewed as the long-term successor to Mikel Arteta and could forge a rock solid partnership with Mathieu Flamini. His range of passes could also inject further goals into an already prolific midfield area.

3) Matthias Ginter – Freiburg

A versatile defensive player, Matthias can delve forwards as a creative midfielder or hold back as a centre-half and throw in those crucial last ditch tackles to rescue results. Along with his flexible style of play, the 6’2″ German U21 starlet also shows one of the greatest attitudes towards the game at the tender age of just 19. His youth and current club’s position could mean we face no mammoth task in prising him away from his home-town club.

2) Diego Costa – Atletico Madrid

A predator on the ball matching the greatest across Europe in terms of goals , so far this campaign. Nicknamed ‘El Cholo’ or ‘The Beast’, he has hit 19 goals already this season, just one less than Cristiano Ronaldo. Although I feel there is no doubting any of his ability, many great clubs have been alerted to his fantastic start to the season. If Wenger wishes to land the Brazilian, he would have to trigger his £32m release clause and persuade him to make the switch to England, but he would be a sensational buy if we could pull it off.

1) Mario Mandzukic – Bayern Munich

Rather surprising for some perhaps that Mario even makes the list, but there are a number of reasons I feel it is vital to secure the services of the clinical Croatian. Possessing strength beyond the realms of most Prem players (Yaya Touré not included obviously), experience at some of Europe’s top clubs and the shooting range of Van Persie available to him, makes me believe he could be the player to give us the Premier League title.

It’s unknown to me how much he would cost as it’s just speculation at present, but I doubt we’d find a bargain as at 27 years of age, he’s still at the peak of his career. However, Bayern Munich are unlikely to let him leave until the summer when Robert Lewandowski completes his move from Borussia Dortmund.

SEE ALSO: Alvaro Morata hints at move

Thanks for reading and let’s hope the Gunners add one top-player to an already stellar side, COYG!!