The English club know they have to take one more step to lift the Champions League trophy
Arsenal’s transfer market is preparing for a top striker to arrive in January, and a potential sale of Noni Madueke could speed up the operation. The London club identified this need during the summer and is still actively looking for a winger or striker for the January 2027 market.
Unemployed manager observed at Old Trafford
Arsenal return to the market for an attacking star
Arsenal ended the summer transfer window without securing the coveted leading striker they had been chasing for months. The club did invest around £194 million in signings, but the signing of Bruno Guimarães, Ezri Konsa and Christos Tzolis did not cover the need for a top-level striker.
Names like Vinícius Júnior and Julián Álvarez appeared during that period, but no deals materialized. The Brazilian renewed with Real Madrid, while Álvarez stayed at Atlético de Madrid after Barcelona failed to secure his transfer.
The focus is now on January 2027. Arsenal believe that a market opportunity could make it possible to sign the striker they missed out on in the summer – especially after losing Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. Martinelli went to Al-Hilal for £60 million, and Trossard was sold to Beşiktaş for £17 million.
Noni Madueke could change Arteta’s plans
The situation of Noni Madueke, a 24-year-old winger, could directly affect this planning. The England international has only played 23 minutes in the Premier League this season and has not started any of the five games after the Community Shield.
Madueke joined from Chelsea in July 2025 for £48.5 million and is under contract with Arsenal until 2030. In his first season, he made 43 appearances and scored 8 goals with 4 assists across all competitions.
The scenario could change if he continues to be missing game time. Atlético de Madrid and Juventus are monitoring his situation towards January and are considering a potential loan with an option to buy – although there are no formal negotiations or offers made to Arsenal.
A sale of Madueke would create extra space in a squad that already lost two strikers this summer. Arsenal could take advantage of this move to free up space and direct part of their investment towards an attacking star who could compete for a starting spot immediately.
Arsenal face a choice between opportunity and big investment
Among the profiles linked to Arsenal is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a 25-year-old who is currently at Paris Saint-Germain. Ousmane Dembélé has also been mentioned, although the complexity of his contract and sports situation makes both operations demanding.
The club is also considering options such as Pedro Neto, who has attracted interest from Arsenal and Manchester City for January. Some reports suggest that his price could be around £100 million, although the valuation of the player varies.
The priority will be to find an opportunity that fits the budget and sporting structure. If Noni Madueke leaves on loan in January and Arsenal maintain the need for attacking options, the club will have an extra reason to speed up their search for an attacking star before the winter market in January 2027 closes.
Read on Radiosporten: “Happy Erling, Happy life”
