Mikel Arteta insists that ‘the best players in the world are always interested’ in joining Arsenal after discussing his side’s plans during the January transfer window.
Arsenal are being linked with several names during the current transfer window, with the Gunners understood to be targeting additions in central midfield and at centre-forward.
The North Londoners are believed to be interested in signing Fiorentina forward Dusan Vlahovic, who has attracted the interest of Europe’s elite following a prolific spell in Italy.
The Serbia international is the leading scorer in Serie A this season with 16 goals in 20 appearances, having equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s divisional record of 33 goals in a calendar year in 2021.
Arteta has discussed the potential for a big-money signing this month and reckons that the world’s best players are ‘always interested’ in signing for Arsenal despite their lack of European football this season.
“I don’t know,” Arteta said on signings at his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool tomorrow evening.
“Historically this club has always been targeting the best players in the world and the best players in the world are always interested to come here and I can say that situation hasn’t changed.
“Anytime I have spoken to any player, they were so willing to come, I haven’t faced any other situation and that’s one of our biggest powers, our capacity to get the attention of people to come and join our club, it’s something that is a big advantage for us.”
Arteta further discussed his plans to improve the side with new additions, but conceded that transfer business in January can often prove ‘extremely difficult’.
“What I really want this month is that we have as many players as possible fit and healthy and that we do the best and maximum with those players. After we have a strategy of how we want to evolve and improve the team, and whenever that is possible we are going to try to do it. We all know that this market is extremely difficult.”
