Premier League leaders will be active in the January transfer window. So far they have made no signings, but that’s just because they were focused primarily on Mykhailo Mudryk, who ended up at Chelsea for 100 million euros (and the club gave 20 million to the Ukrainian army). Now, the Gunners have opened talks with Brighton’s winger Trossard and are looking for former Real Madrid defender Ivan Fresneda, but are faced with a firm Newcastle competition. 👀 | Ivan Fresneda, the Spanish 18y right back who’s on Arsenal’s radar pic.twitter.com/L7MDqbkEK2— Arsenal Pooh (@ArsenalPooh) January 14, 2023 The Magpies desperately need a right-back cover for captain Kieran Trippier, as the Spaniard Javier Manquillo is the only backup and he didn’t impress when played in some rare games this season. Unlike former Liverpool player, Fresneda is a regular in La Liga side Villareal and is also a part of the Spain U19 squad. His future looks bright at the age of 18, and his fee should be around 10 million euros. His agent was in London at the weekend and Newcastle are trying to negotiate a deal for the defender, and even sent his chief scout to watch him play against his former club Real Madrid. They also asked the player’s agent to inform them about any Arsenal bid in the future. No Mudryk? Let’s go for Trossard thenApart from a right-back cover, the Magpies are also in need of a proper winger who would challenge an in-form Miquel Almiron. At the beginning of the season, they pushed really hard for Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby, but the player wanted to play in the Champions League and the club also put up a huge price. Six months later, Bayer is 12th in Bundesliga and had to change coaches, while the Magpies are pushing for the Champions League place from the third position. Maybe this time, the Germans will lower the price. Chris Wood’s 12 month spell at Newcastle #NUFC pic.twitter.com/8CNZP6wnkT— Alfie(Joelinton Enjoyer)⚫️⚪️ (@AIfieNUFC) January 18, 2023 Eddie Howe also needs to trim the squad, and two possible departs are on the table. One is Ryan Fraser, who lost his place to Almiron and even average Joseph Murphy, and the Scotsman is ready to leave in order to get some playing time, while Chris Wood could be the other. The New Zealand striker was the first signing for Newcastle in the new era, in January 2022, but with Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak in the squad, the former Burnley striker is surplus to requirements Callum Wilson. And there are currently two clubs in the Premier League always up for new transfers: Chelse and Nottingham Forest. Wood is not exactly a premier striker, so he will be loaned to Forest in the upcoming days, as coach Steve Cooper needs to find a cover for the injured Taiwo Awoniyi (who will be out for two months). In his 12 months on Tyneside, Wood has scored just five times in 39 appearances and started in just four Premier League games. ##NAJAVA_MECA_6954613##
