Sources: Arsenal signing plan is hit as January budget revealed

Arsenal may have to wait until next year’s summer window to sign a new defensive midfielder, sources have told Football Insider.

Football Insider revealed on Saturday (11 November) that the Gunners are long-term admirers of Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz and Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi.

Both players have been on the list of Mikel Arteta for 18 months and had offers rejected for Brazil international Luiz in 2022.

And while Arsenal are keen to bring one of them to the club in the upcoming January window, they do not have a big transfer budget to play with.

The Gunners had been exploring the possibility of selling Thomas Partey in the mid-season window to boost their coffers.

That development represents a major hit to Arsenal’s January transfer plans.

Arteta has identified defensive midfield as an area for improvement despite the club-record signing of Declan Rice in the most recent summer window.

Luiz is out of contract at Aston Villa in 2026 and has enjoyed the best form of his career at the start of the 2023-24 campaign.

Zubimendi is also wanted by Arsenal following his impressive form for Real Sociedad in La Liga and the Champions League.

The 24-year-old is under contract in San Sebastian until June 2027.

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