Arsenal are keen to add depth to their attack in the January transfer window, with reports claiming that the club are keeping tabs on Noah Okafor of Red Bull Salzburg. The Gunners were expected to pursue Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhaylo Mudryk, though they appear to have had a change of heart.
Mikel Arteta’s side are reaping the benefits of their smart recruitment over the past few years, with the addition of Gabriel Jesus proving to be the final piece of the puzzle in the final third. The Brazil international has scored five and assisted five in 12 Premier League appearances so far this season, though those figures don’t do justice to his overall influence.
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka have also shone at the Emirates Stadium, though Arteta’s lack of depth in the final third is a cause for concern. The Spaniard attempted to deal with that issue late in the summer, but the plan was put on pause until January.
According to Calcio Mercato, Arsenal are leading the race to sign Swiss forward Okafor. The 22-year-old has shone for Salzburg this season with five goals in 12 league appearances, with his versatility also a valuable asset.
Edu may no longer be pushing for Arsenal to sign Mudryk (Image: Getty)
Leeds have been heavily linked with Okafor over the past few months as they look for a strike partner for Patrick Bamford. The Whites looked somewhat nailed on to land their top target, though Arsenal’s emergence from the pack would suggest that they will have to look elsewhere.
Although the Gunners’ interest in Okafor is bad news for Leeds, it will certainly be music to the ears of many. Arteta’s side have been heavily linked with Mudryk this season, with his teammate Anatoliy Trubin even joking that the player had ‘already signed’ for the club.
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However, given that Emile Smith Rowe is returning from injury after the World Cup and Eddie Nketiah penned a new deal at his boyhood club under the idea that he would be given plenty of opportunities, it is hard to see Arsenal signing both Okafor and Mudryk as well. Thus, the latter could be available to other Premier League outfits.
Liverpool and Manchester City have both been touted as interested in the 21-year-old and have the financial capabilities required to meet Shakhtar’s reported £85million price tag for the playmaker. The domino effect of not pursuing Mudryk is significant for Arsenal as they must consider that they are risking their title rivals strengthening, and Edu must decide if the benefit of signing Okafor outweighs that.