Fabrizio Romano Exclusive: Arsenal 'One to Watch' in Race to Sign £50m Striker

 

With just four days remaining before the January transfer window closes, the striker market remains highly active, particularly for clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.

One of the most unexpected developments of the window has been Jhon Duran’s transfer from Aston Villa to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. This move took many by surprise, including Aston Villa, as they had not anticipated receiving such an offer with only 56 hours left before the Saudi market deadline.

Al-Nassr had initially set their sights on Darwin Nunez for months and nearly secured a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface. However, they ultimately shifted their focus to Jhon Duran upon realizing that both the player and his club were willing to proceed, despite Duran having recently signed a new contract. The total package for this deal, which exceeds €85 million including add-ons, is expected to have a ripple effect on several other transfers.

As a result, Victor Boniface will not be heading to the Saudi Pro League, meaning Bayer Leverkusen will not be signing Evan Ferguson, who had been prepared to move to Germany and play under Xabi Alonso. This leaves Ferguson as a potential target for West Ham, who are actively searching for a striker after having bids rejected for Brian Brobbey and Ricardo Pepi.

Meanwhile, there is intense competition for Mathys Tel, who has emerged as one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe after deciding to leave Bayern Munich. Aston Villa are ready to make a significant investment to secure his signature, while Tottenham have already reached an agreement with Bayern on a €60 million (£50 million) package. However, Spurs are now waiting for Tel to make his final decision, with Chelsea also in contention and Arsenal keeping a close eye on developments. Manchester United have also expressed interest, but they are only willing to pursue a loan deal. The final decision rests with Tel, who is currently weighing his options with guidance from his agent and family.

Both Arsenal and Tottenham are expected to add an attacking player before the window shuts, while Chelsea continue to explore potential opportunities through active discussions. Manchester United’s transfer activity will largely depend on the futures of Marcus Rashford and, to some extent, Alejandro Garnacho. Rashford is particularly keen on a move to Spain, with Barcelona being his dream destination. However, financial constraints prevent Barça from making an offer unless Ansu Fati opts to leave before the deadline—an outcome that remains unlikely at this stage. Turkish clubs have been making inquiries about Rashford, but no agreement has been reached.

At Paris Saint-Germain, no further transfers are anticipated following their acquisition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Although Duran was previously on their shortlist, his move to Al-Nassr rules him out, and Victor Osimhen has no plans to depart this January. Meanwhile, Galatasaray are close to securing Alvaro Morata on loan from AC Milan, with the Italian club expected to finalize a deal for Santiago Gimenez from Feyenoord within the next 24 hours.

With more than seven elite clubs actively engaged in negotiations, the transfer market for strikers remains highly dynamic, with potential surprises still in store before the window closes.