Four Arsenal stars who can talk to European clubs in January over a free transfer

 

Arsenal have four stars who could discuss a transfer away from the Emirates Stadium during the January transfer window.

Arsenal have four players who can agree a pre-contract agreement with a foreign team in January.

Players can agree to a free transfer move from the start of the calendar year in which their contracts expire, which may potentially alter Mikel Arteta’s own transfer plans.

Express Sport looks at who might leave…

Cedric Soares

Defender Cedric was signed in January 2020 as a back-up.

The experienced Portugal international initially featured prominently under Arteta but has since failed to find regular football at the Emirates Stadium.

The 32-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Fulham.

He has not played in the Premier League for Arsenal since November 2022.

It seems unlikely that Cedric will be offered a new contract by the north Londoners, making him a free agent next summer.

Several clubs will likely be interested in a possible move, hoping to secure a free transfer for the end of the campaign.

Alex Runarsson

Another player signed to play second-fiddle at Arsenal, Icelandic goalkeeper Alex Runarsson failed to displace Bernd Leno and was subsequently the No 2 to Aaron Ramsdale.

David Raya’s addition last summer pushed the 28-year-old even further down the pecking order.

Runarsson joined Cardiff on loan in search of regular football. However, he has played just once in the Championship, with former Tottenham youngster Jak Alnwick preferred.

A departure next summer seems the most likely option for Runarsson, who has played only six times for Arsenal since joining in the summer of 2020.

Mohamed Elneny

Long-serving Mohamed Elneny could finally depart Arsenal at the end of the season.

The Gunners offered the Egyptian a one-year extension to remain at the end of last term, with the experienced star offering valuable experience to a young squad this year.

Turning 32 next July, Elneny might see the summer as his last opportunity to win a deal to play regularly elsewhere. He will still have a lot to offer a top-tier side.

Arthur Okonkwo

With so many goalkeepers ahead of him at Arsenal, Arthur Okonwko might see the summer as a chance to explore his options.

The 22-year-old has been part of the Arsenal system for some time but is yet to make his senior debut, despite featuring in some pre-season friendlies.

Okonkwo was sent on loan to League Two, Hollywood-backed Wrexham in the summer following Ben Foster’s retirement.

An impressive record has seen him keep five clean sheets in 10 appearances for the Welsh outfit.

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Yes, it’s the international break, and so news of any real significance is going to have to take a backseat.

With nearly a fortnight between now and our next fixture, and with Fortnite OG’s recent release, we turn to all the big noises and shiny things.

Something’s been troubling me lately, namely, the fitness or lack thereof of our own Thomas Partey.

He’s missed our last seven matches after a fifteen-minute cameo against Man City and faces a layoff that will last well into December.

Could we find a replacement, maybe even an upgrade, in Villa’s Douglas Luiz?

We kicked the proverbial tyres on this just a few weeks ago, but new developments (and the interlull) prompt a return.

While Villa are flying high, they are not yet in a position to dictate terms or turn away from a chance to upgrade.

With that in mind, could we perhaps offer them someone like Smith Rowe, Nketiah, or (gasp) Nelson? Each lad is marginal at best to our squad but could prove instrumental to Villa’s.

For ourselves, we’re going to need to deal with Partey’s situation sooner rather than later.

Injury concerns aside, there’s also the deepy unsavoury allegations against him. If I’m being honest, I’d much rather see us wash our hands of the whole situation.

Those issues aside, Villa legend Gabriel Agbonlahor has said, “let’s be honest, Douglas Luiz wanted to leave Aston Villa because Arsenal bid and the club didn’t accept it.

Douglas Luiz was in a great position as his contract was up in the summer.”

It might take upwards of £50m to prise the Brazilian away from Emery’s Villa, but we did do them a solid in selling them Emi Martinez, and our own Brazilian contingent (Jesus, Gabriel, and Martinelli) might pour some honey in his ear during this accursed international break.

If we’re not willing to match VIlla’s up-front asking price, we might be able to sweeten the deal by throwing in one of those aforementioned fringe players (much as it pains me to label any of our Hale End lads thusly).

A double pivot of Luiz and Rice would absolutely sizzle, each of them equally capable of playing as a 6 or an 8, shielding the defense or bombing forward.

Luiz has six goals and an assist, suggesting he’s quite capable of more than merely shielding the defense.

Way back in 2018-19, Emery was enough of a fan of Smith Rowe, at the time just 18 years old, to play him six times: twice in the Carabao cup and four times in the Europa League.

The Smith delivered three goals form those six appearances, perhaps presaging his explosion onto the Prem scene in 2021-22.

To see him then fall down the pecking order behind Martinelli, Trossard, and even Havertz has to sting more than a little—but maybe there are enough fond memories between Emery and Smith Rowe to augur a fond reunion?

If nothing else, a public pursuit of Luiz will send Todd Boehly off on a wild goose-chase.

He’ll throw £80m at Aston Villa to get Luiz before we do while we flit off to sign someone like Zubimendi from Real Sociedad for half the fee. Why not? It’s worked before.

Prepare yourselves for a few weeks of this kind of folderol.

Before you go, I have a suggestoin. If you’re a regular visitor and appreciate what you find here, spread the word. Recruit another Gooner to contribute some craic.

The comments-section gets livelier when you and your mates are chiming in. Think of it as a a virtual pub or tavern. ‘Til next time…