Eight targets from Arsenal's 21-man summer shortlist Arteta could still pursue

Arsenal closed the summer transfer window without landing the high-profile forward Mikel Arteta was seeking, but eight players from the club’s reported 21-man shortlist remain attainable targets for the January window or beyond.

BBC Sport reported that the Gunners had drawn up a list of 21 players at the start of the summer. Several of those targets are no longer realistic options — Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers and Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola signed elsewhere, while Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana is reportedly set to extend his contract. That still leaves a handful of names Arsenal could return to.

Kenan Yildiz was linked with a move to north London throughout the window. The 21-year-old Juventus winger scored 11 goals and contributed 10 assists in 47 appearances for Juve last season and could address Arsenal’s shortage of recognised left-flank options following the departures of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.

Nico Paz, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder who joined Como from Real Madrid in 2024, has accumulated 37 goal contributions in 78 appearances under manager Cesc Fabregas. He will enter the final year of his contract next summer, potentially making him a more accessible target.

Eli Junior Kroupi attracted interest from several clubs after scoring 13 Premier League goals for Bournemouth last season. The forward is currently recovering from injury but remains a potential long-term addition to Arsenal’s frontline.

Louis Page, the 18-year-old Leicester City midfielder, is a name Arsenal failed to advance on this summer. BBC Sport reported that a lack of direct club-to-club dialogue saw Arteta’s side lose ground, though the window reopening could give them a fresh opportunity.

Ivan Fresneda, the 21-year-old Sporting CP right-back, was also linked with a move to the Emirates. Arsenal are considered well-stocked in that position, but the Portuguese club’s continued development of the Spain youth international has kept him on the Gunners’ radar.

Arteta’s side finished as Premier League runners-up and reached the Champions League final last season, and the manager will be eager to close the gap on the title with targeted additions. Pursuits of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez this summer underlined the ambition — and the difficulty — of the club’s recruitment strategy at the elite level.