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      Arsenal transfer plans revealed with Arteta targeting five more deals before January window shuts including Odegaard

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      ARSENAL have been busy in the January transfer window but are far from done with a week still to go.
      The likes of Mesut Ozil, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Sead Kolasinac have left but Mikel Arteta still has a fairly large squad.

      Martin Odegaard should become Arsenal’s third signing of the monthCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Nevertheless, he is determined to add to it with a variety of creative players tipped to follow Mat Ryan and Omar Rekik through the door.
      Here, SunSport details five deals that are reportedly on the Gunners’ radar going into the last week of the window.
      Martin Odegaard
      Any minute now, Arsenal will confirmed the loan signing of Norwegian wonderkid Odegaard from Real Madrid.
      The Gunners will pay his £38,000-a-week wages along with a £1.8m loan fee to the Spanish giants.

      Reports outline Arteta’s personal influence in getting the deal over the line, with his intent on adding a new playmaker leading to the coach personally calling Odegaard to persuade him.
      It appears to have done the trick with the midfielder flying in on Sunday night and undergoing a medical yesterday.

      Reiss Nelson
      Attacking midfielder Nelson has not quite been starved of game time this season but, at 21, it is a crucial year for his development.

      Odegaard’s arrival, plus the emergence of fellow youngsters Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, has pushed him towards the sidelines.
      With only a single goal from his nine appearances, the England youth international could be sent out on loan.
      According to PA Media, a Championship club is the most likely destination for Nelson.

      Reiss Nelson could be the next player to leave on loanCredit: Reuters
      Ryan Bertrand
      The decision to let Kolasinac sign for Schalke has reportedly left Arteta worried that the Gunners need a new left-back.
      Cedric Soares, Saka and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have all filled in when first-choice Kieran Tierney has been unavailable.
      But experienced defender Bertrand is seen as a better option, particularly with just six months left on his Southampton contract.
      However, they will have to act fast with The Athletic reporting on progress involving the player renewing his Saints commitment.
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      Ryan Bertrand was reportedly fancied for a shock switchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Shkodran Mustafi
      Lazio and Barcelona have been linked with the German defender.
      Having long ago been outcast by Arteta, Mustafi is expected to leave either this month or in the summer.
      According to Football.London, talks are underway to terminate his deal – just as Ozil and Sokratis agreed to.
      But Mustafi’s father and agent, Kujtim, has dispelled those rumours with there ‘currently no discussions’ over ripping up the defender’s deal.

      Shkodran Mustafi is said to be a target for LazioCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Emiliano Buendia
      Odegaard’s loan switch to North London will reportedly not deter Arsenal in chasing Norwich playmaker Buendia.
      Yet the Championship side are said to want £40m to let their star midfielder leave during a promotion battle.
      Norwich boss Daniel Farke recently stated: “It makes no sense for any of my key players to leave at this moment. And it makes no sense for us as a club right now to sell any of my players.”
      According to Goal, Buendia has accepted that a summer switch is his best bet unless Arsenal fancy a big-money bid as the deadline approaches.
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

      Emiliano Buendia has a price tag of around £40millionCredit: PA:Press Association

      Arsenal sign Mat Ryan on loan transfer from Brighton until end of season More

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      Shkodran Mustafi in talks with Arsenal to rip up £90k-a-week contract amid transfer interest from Lazio

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      ARSENAL are reportedly preparing to terminate a third star’s contract by releasing Shkodran Mustafi.
      Mesut Ozil and Sokratis Papastathopoulos have already agreed early exits as the Gunners look to trim their wage bill.

      Shkodran Mustafi is nearing an end to his Arsenal careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Next up to be cut is said to be German defender Mustafi, who has six months to run on his contract.
      Mikel Arteta has rarely called upon the 28-year-old this season other than as a rotation option in the Europa League.
      According to Football.London, Mustafi’s representatives are in talks with the club to settle his contract early.
      That would allow him to find a new team in January, with Lazio one side touted as a destination.

      However, Mustafi’s father and agent Kujtim has refuted the termination talk – but insists the centre-back will leave North London soon.
      He told Transfermarkt: “To clarify, there are currently no discussions about a contract termination.
      “The fact is Shkodran will leave the club by the summer at the latest.”
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      The player is thought to earn £90,000-a-week at Emirates Stadium having signed a five-year contract when arriving from Valencia for £35million.
      With 151 Arsenal appearances to his name, he did not feature in either squad for last year’s FA Cup final and Community Shield wins.
      And his departure looks set to be strikingly low key, just as it was with Sokratis and Ozil.
      Fenerbahce signed the playmaker after he took a whopping 80 per cent pay cut to move to Istanbul.

      Meanwhile, Sokratis has returned to Greece with Athens club Olympiacos.
      Allowing Mustafi to leave would take Arsenal’s winter departures up to six with Matt Macey sold, and both William Saliba and Sead Kolasinac loaned out.
      Despite that tally, Arteta still has a wealth of centre-backs to call upon for the second half of the season.
      David Luiz, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari, Calum Chambers and Gabriel Magalhaes will compete for places, while the club looks set to add Martin Odegaard to their midfield options.
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

      Arsenal sign Mat Ryan on loan transfer from Brighton until end of season More

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      Arsenal ‘to be offered Julian Draxler by PSG’ as part of Matteo Guendouzi transfer

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      ARSENAL could be set to add Julian Draxler to the signing of Martin Odegaard, according to reports in France.
      The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has been touted for a swap deal involving Matteo Guendouzi.

      Julian Draxler is reportedly being offered to ArsenalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Matteo Guendouzi is said to be interesting Paris Saint-GermainCredit: AFP or licensors

      According to L’Equipe, Les Parisiens coach Mauricio Pochettino wants to bring in the Frenchman this month.
      A new central midfielder is high on the Argentine’s list with his old Tottenham star, Dele Alli, another man linked.
      But PSG have long held an interest in Guendouzi too with the 21-year-old, born in the Parisian suburbs, signed to the club as a kid.
      Arsenal beat the Ligue 1 side to his signature in 2018 but Mikel Arteta fell out with Guendouzi at the end of last season.

      A loan spell at Hertha Berlin has seen the player enjoy a brief revival of form but the German club cannot afford him past the summer.
      In addition, the sacking of boss Bruno Labbadia has reportedly lost Guendouzi a key ally in the capital amid dressing room tension.

      Arsenal are expected to announce the loan signing of Real Madrid playmaker Odegaard on Tuesday.
      But the Norwegian may not be the only creative midfielder coming in to replace Mesut Ozil, if Draxler is offered.

      The German has start a PSG game since October and was stuck on the bench for Friday’s 4-0 demolition of Montpellier.
      Leeds are also said to be tracking the 27-year-old.
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

      Ex-Arsenal star Mesut Ozil says a dream came true after Fenerbahce move More

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      Jack Wilshere jokes he didn’t learn from Barcelona’s midfield legends for Arsenal… as they ‘spent night in my pocket’

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      JACK WILSHERE joked there was not much to learn from playing against Barcelona’s legendary midfield – because they were all in his pocket.
      Wilshere, 29, conducted a Q&A online and was asked about playing Barca at the Emirates in 2011.

      Jack Wilshere playing against Barcelona in 2011Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      And he was quizzed on who he learned most from between Andres Iniesta, Xavi or Sergio Busquets.
      Wilshere cheekily responded: “Couldn’t learn much, they all spent the night in my pocket.”
      Arsenal famously won the Champions League last 16 first leg with late goals from Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin.
      Wilshere started the game alongside Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song and Samir Nasri.

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      Despite the win, they were eventually knocked out in the second leg, losing 3-1, with Lionel Messi scoring twice.
      In Wilshere’s revealing Q&A, he was asked several questions about Arsenal and confirmed he still keeps in contact with former manager Arsene Wenger.
      Asked if he was in talks with new boss and former team-mate Mikel Arteta, he said: “No contact.

      “Arteta is a great coach but he has a good squad there and they are building something special.”
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

      Jack Wilshere pictured next to Andres IniestaCredit: Reuters

      Wilshere also revealed Gunners legend Patrick Vieira would be his dream midfield partner.
      He said John Terry or Wayne Rooney were his most influential team-mates in the dressing room.
      And ex-England keeper Joe Hart got Wilshere’s pick as funniest footballer to be around.

      Jack Wilshere gets his fitness up with some personal training More

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      Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal squad no longer ‘unmanageable’ after Mesut Ozil, Sead Kolasinac and Sokratis got boot

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      MIKEL ARTETA says that Arsenal’s squad is no longer “unmanageable” now that Mesut Ozil, Sead Kolasinac and Sokratis Papastathopoulos have all left.
      Ozil is still waiting to comply with Turkey’s strict coronavirus regulations before completing his free transfer move to Fenerbahce.

      Mesut Ozil has discussed the decision to pay off Mesut Ozil’s contractCredit: Action Images – Reuters

      Sead Kolasinac has also left the club this month, on loan to SchalkeCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But Kolasinac has already joined German strugglers Schalke on loan while Sokratis’ contract has been terminated by mutual agreement.
      And Arteta believes the mood in the camp is now much better as a result of his January clearout.
      He said: “We couldn’t carry on with 31 players in the squad.
      “That was unmanageable and it makes it even more difficult when you have to leave out some of the foreign players.

      “It’s really complicated to do that for a period of months and still maintain the health, the ambition and the chemistry around the place.
      “The important thing for me is for everybody to be involved and to feel that they have a chance of fighting for the opportunity to play.
      “But when you are completely out of that equation it makes it really difficult to find motivation.
      “Mesut is a really talented footballer who has done a lot for this club but at the moment I want to take the team in a different direction.

      It’s a really difficult situation for both parties to sustain because the player wants to play and we cannot give him the minutes.
      Mikel Arteta

      “He was part of some of our plans at the start, but at the end he wasn’t and obviously that situation had to be resolved.
      “It was a tough decision to let him leave for many different reasons but there is a history of what happened in the past few years and how things developed in terms of how I thought the team should evolve and his position at the club.
      “When you have such an important player who is not in the squad, it’s a really difficult situation for both parties to sustain because the player wants to play and we cannot give him the minutes.
      “So one of our main objectives this month was to make some decisions to offset that.
      “The quarantine situation in Turkey is making Mesut’s final step the longest ever because they have a lot of restrictions there.
      “There are still things to be done before announcing anything but everything seems to be going OK.”
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      Sokratis Papastathopoulos has agreed an early end to his contractCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Ozil, who is believed to have agreed a pay-off in the region of £5million with Arsenal, will be joined at the Arsenal exit by Greek international Sokratis, who cost £18million when he joined from Borussia Dortmund three years ago.
      Arteta added: “I want to thank Papa because he is such a professional and a great person to work with.
      “It’s a shame that he is going but this season we have a lot of central defenders and we are overloaded with foreign players so I had to make a decision.
      “It was a tough one but he took it really well and he has always been really supportive and helpful so from the bottom of my heart I wish him all the best for the next chapter of his career.”
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

      Ex-Arsenal star Mesut Ozil says a dream came true after Fenerbahce move More