Arsenal 'draw up four-man transfer shortlist' as Edu looks to complete Mikel Arteta's XI

Arsenal sporting director Edu has reportedly identified four transfer targets to improve Mikel Arteta’s squad when the market reopens. The Gunners have undergone a rebuilding process over the last few years to successfully transform into Premier League title contenders.

They completed three permanent signings in the summer, with Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori and David Raya moving to the Emirates Stadium. Those deals were supplemented by the loan arrivals of Raheem Sterling and Neto from Chelsea and Bournemouth respectively.

It seems Edu is already working hard to draw up Arsenal’s plan of action for the upcoming January window. He has identified four attacking targets with the aim of signing at least one of them at the turn of the year, according to TEAMtalk.

The report states that Sporting forward Viktor Gyokeres remains a priority target for the Gunners after being linked with a summer move to north London. He scored 43 goals in 50 appearances last season and has picked up where he left off this time around.

Gyokeres is already on 10 league goals for the new campaign despite playing in just six matches. It is said that Arsenal recently asked for more information on the Sweden international, who has a release clause of around £85million written into his contract.

Other clubs, including the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea, are thought to be keeping a close eye on the forward with a view to rivalling Arsenal for his signature. Spurs are thought to be speaking to his representatives in an attempt to swing proceedings in their favour.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are said to be weighing up a move for Gyokeres if Darwin Nunez fails to kick on between now and the end of the season. Chelsea have also been kept informed by Sporting but are considered to be outsiders in the race for his signature.

The report adds that Edu has identified Jonathan David, Marcus Thuram and Benjamin Sesko as potential alternatives in case Arsenal fail to land Gyokeres. All three players have been linked with moves to the Premier League in the past without ever making the switch.

It remains to be seen if Arsenal will be able to land their top target in Gyokeres when the transfer window opens for business in January. They will certainly need to stump up the cash, with Sporting unlikely to sell him in the middle of the season for anything less than the value of his release clause.