Arsenal will play Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Tuesday (January 30) at the City Ground. Mikel Arteta will want to grab all three points in midweek to remain in the championship chase.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are interested in Brighton & Hove Albion forward Kaoru Mitoma. Elsewhere, Arteta is not interested in the Barcelona position. On that topic, here’s a look at the top Arsenal transfer stories as of January 30, 2024:
Arsenal eye Kaoru Mitoma
Arsenal is interested in Kaoru Mitoma, according to Fichaje. The Japanese attacker has been in terrific form for Brighton & Hove Albion lately, prompting teams around the league to take notice. Mitoma has three goals and six assists in 24 games this season across all competitions.
Manchester City and Manchester United are also vying for the 26-year-old’s services, but the Gunners have the advantage. The Seagulls have a reputation for being savvy negotiators, and they are expected to seek roughly £70 million for their top player. However, a midseason change seems improbable.
Camp Nou job not on Mikel Arteta's radar
According to Sky Sports, Mikel Arteta has no desire to take over as manager of Barcelona.
The Spanish manager has done an excellent job at Arsenal, converting the club into championship challengers. He was on the verge of rescue last season, but lost ground to eventual winners Manchester City in the last weeks of the season.
The Blaugrana, however, are facing difficult times after manager Xavi’s decision to depart this summer. The La Liga winners have underperformed this season, and Xavi has been put under intense pressure.
His decision to depart has sparked much speculation, and Arteta has been mentioned as a potential contender for the position. However, it seems that the Spanish manager is still completely focused on the north London club and is not attracted by the opportunity to coach Barcelona.
Journalist: Leicester City wants Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to remain
Journalist Rob Dorsett claims that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is now being pursued by Leicester City with great interest.
This season, the English midfielder has been a firecracker at King Power Stadium, with nine goals and just as many assists in 31 appearances across all competitions. The Athletic reports that his efforts have caught the attention of Arsenal.
In a recent interview, Dorsett said that the Championship leaders would not want to lose the 25-year-old midway through the season.
“It’s quite exciting to observe what occurs. No disrespect to Brentford or Brighton, but if one of the major guns from the Premier League or Europe came in with an offer for Dewsbury-Hall, we may see a flurry of activity and a market because Leicester are sailing a little too close to the wind with the profit and sustainability regulations. “They can’t really strengthen without losing one or two players,” Dorsett said.
He continued:
“To that goal, they are interested in transactions involving a number of players. The trouble is, they don’t want to sell Dewsbury-Hall, and they won’t hear bids for him unless they’re extremely large.
“No, is the response. From what I hear behind the scenes, Enzo Maresca has made it very clear to his management that they cannot afford to lose him at this time. This season in the Championship, he has nine goals and nine assists.
Notwithstanding Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny’s unclear futures, the north London team is searching for midfield reinforcements.