Edu strikes pre-agreement, £8m flop sold - Arsenal's dream end to January transfer window

Recalling Marquinhos from his loan spell at Nantes is about all the business Arsenal have conducted since the turn of the year. Arteta warned supporters that a quiet window was on the cards, and he has proven to be correct, despite the high stakes that come with the forthcoming Premier League title run-in.

The Gunners are currently in third place and five points off the top with 17 games still to play. Arteta will seemingly have to eat up the ground by getting more out of his current crop, with big moves expected to wait until the summer.

But there is still business to be done, and Express Sport takes you through two achievable outcomes that would mark an ideal end to the January window for Edu...

Arsenal are reportedly closing in on long-term target Martin Zubimendi

Edu strikes pre-agreement

Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny will both be out of contract at the end of the season, and fellow midfielder Thomas Partey is widely expected to seek a new challenge elsewhere. Midfield recruitment is therefore likely to be a high priority.

Edu could get the jump on his rivals by guaranteeing an exciting summer move well before the window even swings open. According to Spanish outlet AS, an agreement between Arsenal and Real Sociedad for long-term target Martin Zubimendi is now 'very close'.

The 24-year-old has a £51.4million release clause which, if the Gunners triggered, would see them fend off rival competition from Barcelona to land their target. It remains to be seen whether they make further headway before the end of the month.

£8m flop sold

Plenty needs to fall into place before Arsenal can cash in on Nuno Tavares. The left-back, who they signed for £8m, has not made a single appearance for the north Londonders since 2021/22, spending last season on loan at Marseille before embarking on a temporary stint at Nottingham Forest this term.

Arteta believes Arsenal brace will give Martinelli boost

Tavares has been starved of game time since landing at the City Ground, amassing only 184 minutes of Premier League football all season. The player, as well as Arsenal, are reportedly keen to cut the arrangement short.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Marseille want to sign the 23-year-old permanently after his impressive attacking displays last campaign. But the deal hinges entirely on Forest, who are under no obligation to send Tavares back to the Emirates as their agreement with Arsenal does not include a recall clause.