Arsenal's stunning £157m January transfer window predicted with Celtic, Wolves and Sporting CP deals

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The world’s most popular managerial simulation predicts how the January transfer window could play out for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.

Arsenal enjoyed a productive summer transfer as they look to go one step better in this season’s Premier League title race.

After losing out to Manchester City in the last two seasons, the Gunners hierarchy backed manager Mikel Arteta as he added four new faces to his squad and completed the permanent signing of goalkeeper David Raya after he spent last season on loan at the Emirates Stadium.

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A £38m deal was enough to complete the addition of Italy international defender Riccardo Calafiori and he was joined at Arsenal by Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, who became a Gunner just over a month after helping Spain to their Euro 2024 Final win over England.

The final addition of the window came just hours before the close of business as England winger Raheem Sterling made the short trip across London after joining on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea.

There were outgoings as the likes of Emile Smith-Rowe, Aaron Ramsdale and Eddie Nketiah ventured to pastures new - but what other business could take place when the January transfer window opens for business at what is likely to be a critical time in the Gunners season as they aim for success on a number of fronts.

We fired up Football Manager 2024, used the editor to get Arteta’s squad in its current state and allowed the world’s most popular managerial simulation to predict how January could play out.

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Ins

Mikel Arteta opted for quality rather than quantity during the window after he added just two new faces to his squad. The departures of two midfielders (more of those in a moment) meant the Gunners boss had to refresh his options in the middle of the park and that came with a £40m move for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes.

The nine-times capped Brazil international only joined the Molineux club in a £14m deal in January 2023 - but he has proven himself as a serious talent in the Premier League and that has persuaded Arteta to make his move. Despite the presences of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz within the Arsenal squad, there is still a feeling that a more natural goalscorer is required if Arteta’s men are to push on and claim a long-awaited Premier League title.

The virtual Gunners boss clearly recognised that shortcoming and handed over £62m to secure a deal for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, who accepted an offer to join Arsenal after receiving interest from the likes of Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea.

Outs

The main departures came in the heart of Arteta’s midfield as two players left the Emirates Stadium after entering the final six months of their current contracts. Perhaps unsurprisingly, both players took the lucrative route taken by so many players in recent years by securing moves to Saudi Pro League clubs.

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Nevin sees a bit of Jorginho in Gilmour.Nevin sees a bit of Jorginho in Gilmour.
Nevin sees a bit of Jorginho in Gilmour. | Getty Images

Firstly, Italy international Jorginho joined the likes of Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves at Al-Hilal after the two clubs agreed a £10m fee. He’ll be joined in the Pro League by fellow midfielder Thomas Partey after he completed a £13m switch to Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq.

However, the duo were far from the only departures from Arsenal as Kieran Tierney re-joined former club Celtic on loan until the end of the season and Leandro Trossard joined Inter Milan in a £32m deal. Perhaps more significantly, the Gunners retained the services of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard after rebuffing sizeable offers for both players from La Liga giants Real Madrid.

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