Mikel Arteta handed Arsenal January transfer wildcard as Isak and Gyokeres alternative emerges

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal could be handed the perfect January transfer wildcard if the latest reports are to be believed. According to The Telegraph, Brighton will make £60million-rated striker Evan Ferguson available for loan in January having fallen down the pecking order at the Amex Stadium.

It's no secret that Arsenal need to add more firepower to their squad in the winter window if they want to mount a serious title challenge. The Gunners are currently nine points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool and have an early mountain to climb in their quest for domestic silverware.

Arteta's side chose not to bring in a striker during the recent summer window, having been repeatedly linked with a move for Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak. The Magpies striker is one of the best forward's in the English top flight, but Arsenal would have been priced out of a move for the Swedish frontman, with Eddie Howe's side asking for a fee well in excess of £100million.

That may be why interest in fellow Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres has emerged in the months that would follow. The Sporting forward is one of the most sought after strikers in Europe have enjoyed a blistering start to the season.

Since moving to Portugal, Gyokeres has scored 67 goals in 69 appearances with another 19 assists set up for his teammates. The 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester United, following former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim to Old Trafford.

Again, a January move to the Emirates looks to be an unlikely one given his current reported release clause standing at £83million. Arsenal have to comply with the Premier League's PSR rules and splashing such money in January looks like an impossible task.

That is why a move for Ferguson could help solve their issues in the final third. The Republic of Ireland international has plenty of potential but is struggling with Brighton at the moment.

A loan move with a possible option to buy could be a way around those aforementioned PSR rules, while being able to help the Gunners in the here and now. However, it would mean Arteta's side ending either Raheem Sterling's or Brazilian goalkeeper Neto's loan early.

Both loan spots are currently occupied and a loan move for Ferguson looks to be too good to pass up. Especially given Sterling has struggled to nail down a place in the starting XI and Neto is currently understudy to David Raya.

Bringing Neto's loan to an end early would be unlikely given the lack of depth in the goalkeeping department, leaving Sterling as the man who would have to leave before a Ferguson loan move could be sanctioned. The 20-year-old striker scored ten goals in 25 appearances in the 2022-23 campaign, before scoring six goals in 36 games last season.

His record in front of goal has been on the decline, but you would back Arteta to get the best out of the young forward and he could be the perfect wildcard option for Arsenal in January, even if there's no option or obligation to buy.

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