Arteta personally wants Arsenal to sign £50m star in January as Saka replacement – David Ornstein…

Arteta is reportedly pushing for Arsenal to sign a £50 million star in January to take Saka’s place, as stated by David Ornstein.

According to David Ornstein, Arteta has a strong desire for Arsenal to secure a £50 million signing in January to fill the role of Saka.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is keen on securing a deal for a highly-rated forward this January, as the club actively seeks a replacement for Bukayo Saka.

Following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals, Arsenal’s aspirations for major silverware have taken a significant hit.

Arteta observed from the sidelines as Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon scored, leaving Arsenal with a challenging task ahead in the return leg at St. James’ Park on February 5.

The absence of Saka, who is expected to be sidelined until March due to hamstring surgery, is acutely felt, particularly as Arsenal squandered numerous opportunities against Newcastle.

Arteta commented on the need for improvement in their finishing, stating, “We need to enhance our clinical edge.

There were moments of misfortune, and we must generate more chances to increase our likelihood of winning. The result is disappointing, but we must focus on the next match.”

He acknowledged the team’s struggles with accuracy, noting, “We missed several shots, and the ball can be unpredictable.

There are aspects we can refine, but now we must move forward and prepare for the upcoming game.”

Mikel Arteta is keen for Arsenal to pursue the signing of Nico Williams, the winger from Athletic Bilbao.

The club is reportedly exploring options for a goal-scoring winger to bolster their attack, especially in light of Saka’s injury, and Williams would be an excellent fit for this role.

In the 2023/24 season, the Spanish international recorded an impressive tally of 19 assists and eight goals across all competitions, making him a notable target for Arsenal during the summer transfer window.

Despite his initial decision to stay at Bilbao for the current season, a transfer in January cannot be entirely dismissed.

As reported by David Ornstein from The Athletic, Arteta has expressed a strong desire for Arsenal to secure Williams in January, especially since the 22-year-old’s contract includes a buy-out clause estimated at around £50 million.

However, a summer transfer appears more likely, given the financial implications, including wages.

Currently, Williams does not seem eager to leave Bilbao, meaning Arsenal would need to present an irresistible offer to entice him.

This Euro 2024 participant has outperformed all his teammates in La Liga this season in terms of successful take-ons per 90 minutes and is on par with his brother Inaki for shots taken per match, according to WhoScored.