Arsenal Target Four Wingers for January Transfer Window: London News 2026

Key Points

• Four-man attack shortlist: Arsenal have identified Alex Baena, Endrick, Antonio Nusa, and Eli Junior Kroupi as potential winger targets for the January transfer window.
• Pace and transition focus: Manager Mikel Arteta wants to recruit a direct, high-speed transition player capable of carrying the ball upfield rapidly and breaking down compact defences.
• Summer departures leave forward line thin: The departure of wide options like Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and Ethan Nwaneri in the summer of 2026 has eroded Arsenal’s depth out wide.
• Outgoings required for major signing: Financial limits dictate that Arsenal must sanction a high-profile departure before funding a significant mid-season attacking move.
• Martin Zubimendi midfield swap leverage: Midfielder Martin Zubimendi is attracting strong interest from Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Chelsea, creating a scenario where a mid-season sale or swap deal could unlock funds for Arteta’s top targets.

Arsenal FC (North London News) November 11, 2026 — Arsenal have drawn up a four-man target list of attacking players ahead of the opening of the January transfer window, as manager Mikel Arteta seeks to restore pace and incision to a forward line left depleted by summer outgoings. According to chief football reporter Miguel Delaney of The Independent, the Premier League leaders are actively assessing Alex Baena, Endrick, Antonio Nusa, and Eli Junior Kroupi. However, senior decision-makers at the Emirates Stadium are prioritizing profile fit over a forced mid-season deal, with any major arrival likely contingent on player sales.

Who Are the Four Wingers on Mikel Arteta’s January Transfer List?

As reported by Miguel Delaney of The Independent, Arsenal have selected four distinct forward targets to address their attacking balance. Bournemouth’s 20-year-old forward Eli Junior Kroupi has emerged as the primary target for Arteta. Kroupi, who recently received his first senior France international call-up as a replacement for Marcus Thuram, has impressed across the frontline and on the left wing. However, Delaney notes that Bournemouth remain firmly reluctant to sanction a January transfer, valuing the player in the region of £100 million. Tottenham Hotspur had previously come close to an £85 million bid in the summer before Kroupi suffered a metatarsal fracture in pre-season.

Consequently, Arsenal are evaluating alternative profiles. Delaney revealed that Atletico Madrid’s Alex Baena—a long-standing target monitored by Arsenal since prior to his move to the Metropolitano—is under active consideration. Concurrently, Real Madrid’s 20-year-old forward Endrick and RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa feature on the list. Reporting from talkSPORT adds that Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has leaned on existing agency relationships regarding Endrick’s availability. Meanwhile, outlets in Germany suggest RB Leipzig view an mid-season departure for Nusa—valued around €80 million following six goals and eight assists in 15 appearances—as highly unlikely until the summer window.

Why Must Arsenal Sell Before Making a Major Mid-Season Signing?

As highlighted by Delaney in The Independent, Arsenal’s squad hierarchy presents a stark contrast between midfield abundance and attacking sparsity. While the summer purchase of Bruno Guimaraes for £85 million reinforced midfield control alongside Declan Rice, the forward line saw significant attrition. Outgoings such as Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and Ethan Nwaneri left Arteta short of explosive wide options. Despite the defensive solidity keeping Arsenal top of the Premier League table, Arteta wants a dynamic transition player capable of breaking low blocks and transitioning rapidly.

To fund such an acquisition, Arsenal must first generate capital through squad departures. Delaney reports that Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi has emerged as the candidate most likely to facilitate a transfer. Signed from Real Sociedad for £60 million in the summer of 2025, Zubimendi played a vital role in Arsenal’s 2025/26 Premier League title win. However, the arrival of Guimaraes and the rise of Myles Lewis-Skelly have restricted Zubimendi’s starting opportunities, with the Spaniard yet to start a Premier League match in the 2026/27 campaign.

How Could a Martin Zubimendi Exit Unlock the January Transfer Window?

According to reporting from Leah Jones of LiveScore and Delaney of The Independent, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid are all actively monitoring Zubimendi’s situation ahead of January. Further reports from Spanish outlets RNE and AS confirm that Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid view the 27-year-old as an elite midfield solution.

Delaney explains that because both Madrid clubs maintain concrete interest in Zubimendi while holding key attacking assets desired by Arsenal—namely Alex Baena at Atletico and Endrick at Real Madrid—potential player-plus-cash exchange negotiations or leveraged sales are not ruled out. Should Arsenal recoup or exceed their initial £60 million investment on Zubimendi, those funds would immediately be redirected towards landing Arteta’s preferred attacking profile, whether in January or via a structured summer agreement for Kroupi.

Background of the Transfer Strategy Development

The current tactical recalculation at Arsenal stems directly from the transfer strategy executed during the summer window of 2026. Following their Premier League title triumph in the 2025/26 season, Arsenal prioritized elite midfield reinforcement and defensive depth, spending heavily to secure Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United alongside defensive additions Ezri Konsa and Piero Hincapie. However, high-profile attempts to bolster the wide attack with targets such as Bradley Barcola, Morgan Rogers, and Vinicius Junior ultimately failed to materialize before the deadline.

Simultaneously, the club sanctioned several high-profile exits to balance the wage bill and squad size. Wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard departed, while highly rated teenager Ethan Nwaneri was sent out on loan. Although Christos Tzolis arrived as an attacking option, the net loss of direct wide runners left Arteta’s forward line visually reliant on central structure and set-piece dominance. While Arsenal’s defensive record remains the elite benchmark in domestic competition, management recognizes that maintaining a multi-front campaign in both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League requires restoring high-speed, direct transition threats to the flanks.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Arsenal and the Premier League Title Race

If Arsenal successfully execute a player departure to fund a top-tier winger arrival in January, it will significantly elevate their tactical flexibility and consolidate their position as title favourites. Acquiring a transition-focused forward like Eli Junior Kroupi or Alex Baena would provide Mikel Arteta with an instant counter-attacking weapon, alleviating the heavy workload currently carried by existing starters and offering late-game solutions against defensive blocks.

Conversely, if financial constraints or club reluctance prevent a January transfer, Arsenal risk operational fatigue in key attacking positions during the run-in. Furthermore, sanctioning the sale of Martin Zubimendi—particularly to a domestic rival such as Chelsea—could risk bolstering a direct competitor’s midfield depth. Arsenal’s leadership must balance the immediate mid-season need for speed against long-term financial prudence, as their final decision in January will dictate whether they can sustain their domestic dominance and European campaign through May.