Arteta Eyes £83m Forward as Prime January Signing for Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reportedly singled out Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram as one of his main transfer targets for the January window. With injuries to key attackers like Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling, the Gunners are looking to reinforce their forward options.

Thuram has been in excellent form this season, netting 13 goals and providing 6 assists in 21 appearances across all competitions for Inter. His performances have caught Arteta’s eye, with the Frenchman apparently on a shortlist of top striker targets alongside Bundesliga players Benjamin Sesko and Victor Boniface.

However, Thuram would not come cheap – reports suggest Inter would demand around £83 million for the 27-year-old. It remains to be seen if Arsenal would be willing to spend such a large sum mid-season, especially with less expensive options like Sesko and Boniface also under consideration.

The interest in Thuram comes as Arsenal deal with injury blows to wingers Saka and Sterling. Arteta faces selection dilemmas for upcoming fixtures, including tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Ipswich Town. The manager has challenged his squad to step up in Saka’s absence, noting it will require tactical adjustments.

As Arsenal navigate a busy fixture list with a depleted attack, bringing in reinforcements like Thuram in January could prove crucial to maintaining their title challenge. However, the high price tag may prove prohibitive unless the club is willing to make a major financial outlay.