The Gunners have several names on their transfer shortlist, but not every one of them is attainable in the January transfer window. De Ligt has been linked this week, but he is more likely to be considered at the end of this season.

Nathan Ake once compared Arsenal target Matthijs De Ligt to Virgil van Dijk

Arsenal are very short at the back, Mikel Arteta said as much after using Declan Rice as a centre-half in the Champions League game against PSV Eindhoven earlier this month.

The Gunners are expected to be active in the January transfer window, and if a good opportunity arises, they could make a move to bring in a new player or two.

The Athletic revealed this week that Matthijs de Ligt is a long-term target for Arsenal.

SportBild add today that a move in January is not a possibility, but Arteta and co want to monitor the £68 million (Sky Sports) Dutchman’s situation until the summer and then consider if they want to bid for him.

De Ligt is very highly rated, so much so that Manchester City star Nathan Ake once compared him to Virgil van Dijk, who Jurgen Klopp feels is the best defender in the world.

Ake told Goal in November 2019: “De Ligt is still so young but he has played so many games in top-flight football and for the Dutch national team It’s amazing what he is doing at the moment.

“When you go to a new country and a new club, especially a big club like Juventus, and you’re 19-20 years old, it’s going to be a change. He scored [against Torino], which is really good for him, but everyone has full confidence in him.

“As you can see, he’s a great player. He’s quick, strong for his age, very good in the air and on the ball he is very good. He scores so many from set-pieces so he’s got a lot of the same attributes as Van Dijk.”

Arsenal don’t really need De Ligt

Matthijs De Ligt is a very good defender, there is no debate there, but Arsenal don’t really need him, do they?

The Gunners already have Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, and both of them are undisputed starters. They’ve been incredible for Mikel Arteta since the beginning of last season, and there’s just no need to change anything there.

If Arsenal are to sign De Ligt, he will cost a lot of money and would want to be a regular starter. That’s just not going to happen unless Saliba or Gabriel decide to leave.

Arsenal should look at signing someone younger – we recommend Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande, who has been linked with a move to the Emirates in 2024.

The £68 million defender that Nathan Ake once likened to Virgil van Dijk is now the target for Arsenal.

Matthijs de Ligt, a defender for Bayern Munich who Nathan Ake once likened to Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool, has been linked to Arsenal.

While a number of players are on the Gunners’ transfer shortlist, not all of them will be available during the January transfer window.Although De Ligt was mentioned this week, it is more likely that he will be taken into consideration come season’s end.

Matthijs De Ligt, an Arsenal target, was once likened by Nathan Ake to Virgil van Dijk.

After starting Declan Rice as a center-half in the Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven earlier this month, Mikkel Arteta stated that Arsenal is extremely short at the back.

The Gunners are anticipated to be active during the January transfer window, and they may try to add one or more new players if a good opportunity presents itself.

This week, The Athletic disclosed that Arsenal’s long-term goal is Matthijs de Ligt.

SportBild reported today that a January transfer is out of the question; instead, Arteta and company plan to wait until the summer to assess the £68 million (Sky Sports) Dutchman’s circumstances before deciding whether to make a bid.

Because of De Ligt’s exceptional reputation, Nathan Ake of Manchester City once likened him to Virgil van Dijk, whom Klopp believes to be the best defender in the world.

“De Ligt is still so young but he has played so many games in top-flight football and for the Dutch national team. It’s amazing what he is doing at the moment,” Ake said to Goal in November 2019.

“As a 19–20-year-old, joining a new country and club—especially a major one like Juventus—will be a transition. It’s great that he scored [against Torino], but everyone is really confident in him.

He is an excellent player, as you can see. He is nimble, powerful for his age, adept in the air, and a fantastic ball player. He shares many characteristics with Van Dijk because he scores so many goals from set pieces.

Getty Images/Image by ANP

De Ligt is not really needed by Arsenal.

There is no denying that Matthijs De Ligt is an excellent defender, but Arsenal doesn’t really need him, do they?

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are already on the Gunners, and they are both considered starters. Since the start of the previous season, they have been fantastic for Mikel Arteta, so there’s really no reason to make any changes.

De Ligt will be expensive to sign and would prefer to be a consistent starter for Arsenal. That is simply not going to occur unless Gabriel or Saliba make the decision to depart.

We advise Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande, who has been linked to a move to the Emirates in 2024, as a younger player that Arsenal should consider signing.