Declan Rice rival emerges as Arsenal identify Mykhaylo Mudryk alternative

18 January 2023 , 03:00

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Arsenal have enjoyed a stellar start to 2023 and are now eight points clear at the summit of the Premier League after triumphing in the north London derby on Sunday.

However, the win over Tottenham was tarnished by the news that Mikel Arteta and Edu had missed out on the Gunners' top transfer target, Mykhaylo Mudryk. The Ukrainian forward is now a Chelsea player after the Blues pounced at the 11th hour to lure the 22-year-old to west London.

With a deal for Mudryk now off the table, it's back to the drawing board for Arteta and Edu; Arsenal remain determined to strengthen their squad this month and are expected to move on to other targets with just a fortnight remaining in the winter window.

Here, Mirror Football rounds up all the latest transfer news and gossip from in and around the Emirates Stadium...

Rice rival emerges

West Ham captain Declan Rice emerged as Arsenal's top summer transfer target on Sunday night - and it now appears as though the Gunners will have to go head-to-head with an old rival to secure the sought-after midfielder's services.

Premier League odds and betting tips

According to The Guardian, Manchester United have already been laying the groundwork for a summer move and are poised to rival Arsenal and a host of other top clubs in the race for Rice, who is expected to leave his boyhood club at the end of the season.

Chelsea and Liverpool have been touted as previous destinations for Rice, who could cost in excess of £100million. However, Rice recently stressed his desire to play Champions League football, which could hand Arsenal and United - who are both flying high in the Premier League - the advantage.

Gunners identify Mudryk alternative

Join the debate! Who do you think Arsenal should sign this month? Let us know here.

Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby could be on his way to the Emirates (Stefan Brauer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Arsenal are reportedly considering a move for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby after missing out on Mykhaylo Mudryk.

That's according to Sky Germany, who claim that Diaby is on the Gunners' January wishlist. A deal for the 23-year-old is unlikely to come cheap, though, with Leverkusen reluctant to cash in on their prized attacking asset, who has plundered eight goals in 22 outings this term.

Newcastle were previously quoted £75m back in the summer when they enquired about Diaby and Leverkusen may demand a premium on top of that to do business midway through the season.

Torres speaks on interest

Arsenal enquired about Facundo Torres before the World Cup (Phelan M Ebenhack/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Orlando City winger Facundo Torres has confirmed that Arsenal made contact over a potential transfer before the World Cup.

Torres, who scored nine times in the MLS last season and was part of the Uruguay squad that travelled to Qatar, revealed that the Gunners touched base with Orlando - and heavily implied that he'd be open to the move.

"Orlando City confirmed to me that there was contact with Arsenal, but then I left for the World Cup and I didn’t want to hear about a potential transfer at that point," Torres told 90min. "So the conversation stayed there but now that I am back with the team, we will see where the conversation goes."

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