Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta seems to have set their sights high in the transfer market ahead of the next January and summer transfer windows.



The Gunners have recently been linked with players like Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney. Such signings would most certainly be ones that supporters would wholeheartedly support. Even though a striker is in the works, rumors have it that the defense is the current top priority.



Due to injuries, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> are now missing Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu, leaving them with insufficient options to choose from. In January, they will probably try to find a loan option so they can get a feel for the market.



It would allow them to make a big move in the summer to permanently fix the problem. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/arteta-vows-to-continue-speaking-out-for-refereeing-improvement-20231124-WST-472371.html">Mikel Arteta</a> said the club would try to invest if they sign the correct player. With important flexible defenders out with injuries, Arsenal is low on choices.



“We have certain targets, ideas if things happen. If there is something that we can [do to] improve the squad and that need appears, and we cannot fulfill it with players here, we are always going to be open to doing that because we want to be stronger”, he <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/27/mikel-arteta-confirms-arsenal-prepared-to-spend-in-january-transfer-window" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told reporters</a>.



<h2>Arsenal sets eyes on Matthijs De Ligt</h2>



Speaking of which, Matthijs De Ligt of Bayern Munich is a long-term target for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta. In their pursuit of a defensive stalwart, Arsenal have their sights set on De Ligt, who joined Bayern from Juventus for $76 million in 2022. Despite this, luring him in January is considered a pipe dream.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231228_WST_480191_Mikel-Arteta-De-Ligt-1200x675_26b56045.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-480215" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/Mikel-Arteta-De-Ligt-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/Mikel-Arteta-De-Ligt-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/Mikel-Arteta-De-Ligt-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/Mikel-Arteta-De-Ligt.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Even if he’s up against players like Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Hernandez for playing time, the Dutchman’s contract has more than four years left on it. With 54 games in all competitions since joining the Bavarians in July 2022, the 24-year-old Dutch defender has been an important figure in Munich.



However, rumors about his future at Bayern have started swirling, even though he has added goalscoring and assist-making abilities to his defensive game.



Injuries have cut down De Ligt’s playing time this season, reducing him to only 11 appearances under Thomas Tuchel’s management. Arsenal has taken notice of the player’s predicament at Allianz Arena, according to <a href="https://theathletic.com/5146288/2023/12/27/arsenal-transfer-window-news-defence-midfield/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Athletic</a>, who claim the London club is interested in the scenario.



<h2>The club spent more than $250m in the summer</h2>



Arsenal wants to improve upon its second-place finish from the 2022/23 season. This summer, the Gunners dropped over $250 million on a slew of signings. For example, it landed Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz. Arteta is aware that more team additions might improve their championship hopes. After all, Arsenal is in the all-too-familiar position of second.



There is a low likelihood of a January move for De Ligt. However, the English side’s hierarchy is optimistic about the club’s chances of completing a move in the summer.



William Saliba and Gabriel have been mainstays in Mikel Arteta’s defense this season. They have helped the club reach a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/watch-premier-league-on-us-tv-internet/">Premier League</a>-best defensive record (tied with Liverpool) of 16 goals conceded.



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

Arsenal turn to Bundesliga in bid to improve defence

Arsenal's Mikel Arteta seems to have set their sights high in the transfer market ahead of the next January and summer transfer windows.

Matthijs de Ligt’s latest criticism of Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel has just fueled the fire at the reigning Bundesliga champions.



The Dutchman’s quest to reclaim his starting role at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayern-munich-tv-schedule/">Bayern Munich</a> has been fraught with difficulty. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/tuchel-slammed-as-bayern-lose-dfl-supercup-in-kanes-debut-20230813-WST-449890.html">Thomas Tuchel</a> reportedly does not like the player and has criticized his buildup play.



The German coach has made private comments about how sluggish De Ligt is, how often he passes laterally, and how seldom he passes vertical through balls, as per <a href="https://www.tz.de/sport/fc-bayern/fc-bayern-matthijs-de-ligt-kim-upamecano-innenverteidigung-92516827.html?trafficsource=ECRslide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TZ Munchen</a>. 



Because of this, De Ligt has fallen behind both Dayot Upamecano, and the recently acquired Kim Min-Jae.



<h2>Injuries or technical choice?</h2>



This probably clarifies the reason behind De Ligt’s absence from the starting lineup throughout the campaign, even though he completed a full 90-minute match for the Netherlands during the break.



Part of the reason might be that the defender is still not 100 percent healthy after suffering a calf injury over the offseason. In fact, he missed a lot of the preseason to focus on getting back to action.



Considering Upamecano’s inconsistent play at the start of Tuchel’s tenure, the 24-year-old’s omission comes as much more of a surprise. The French central defender, though, seems to have impressed the Bayern manager enough to keep his starting spot.



<h5>What Matthijs de Ligt thinks of present situation</h5>



All of this has left the Dutch national team player perplexed as to his sudden lack of play. During post-game interviews with reporters on Friday after the game against Bayer Leverkusen, he made it clear that he is not happy with his present position under the German boss.



“What can I tell you? I haven’t played much in the last four matches, it’s terrible and of course, it’s not pleasant because I always want to play. I do my job on the pitch. I can’t do anything more.



“If the coach explained his reasons to me? No, he didn’t. No idea, you’ll have to ask the coach. I’m doing what the coach wants and now I’ve played about 10 minutes as a No. 6 in the last two games,” he said.



Photo credit: IMAGO / Ulrich Hufnagel

Conflicts arise at Bayern: Angry De Ligt slams coach Tuchel

Matthijs de Ligt, already dissatisfied, has taken his frustrations to a new level, publicly blasting his coach for continuing to bench him.

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Arsenal

Arsenal turn to Bundesliga in bid to improve defence

Bayern Munich

Conflicts arise at Bayern: Angry De Ligt slams coach Tuchel