Liverpool's French striker #22 Hugo Ekitike celebrates scoring the team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Liverpool's French striker #22 Hugo Ekitike celebrates scoring the team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal are reportedly looking to strengthen their depth in attack in the January transfer window.
Mikel Arteta is going through somewhat of an injury crisis at the moment, despite having one of the deepest squads in the Premier League. The Arsenal manager wasn’t originally planning on making many moves in January, but he seems to have changed his mind amid the recent injuries.
Speaking to BBC Sport this week, Arteta said: “We're going to be really aware of the situation and the timescale of certain players. We have to be actively looking, and then can we do it or not?”
Now that it seems Arsenal could be active in the transfer market, reports are emerging which suggest they are potentially looking to add more depth up front. The Gunners have been linked to a Bundesliga forward, who could be the next Hugo Ekitike.
Arsenal have ‘concrete interest’ in the next Ekitike
The Gunners are reportedly looking to add more depth to their striker position, especially seeing as Kai Havertz remains out injured. Recent reports have said that Arsenal are eyeing a move for Eintracht Frankfurt’s replacement for Hugo Ekitike, who left to join Liverpool in the summer.
According to the Independent, Jean-Matteo Bahoya is one of Arsenal’s potential targets in the January window, as the Gunners have “concrete interest” in the 20-year-old Frenchman. Bahoya can play as a striker or on either wing, much like Ekitike. He is tall, fast, and has proven to be a clinical goal scorer in the past.
The France U21s national has an expected market value of just £22m, meaning he could prove to be an absolute bargain, especially if he can become just half the player that Ekitike has become for Liverpool.
If Arsenal were to sign the Frankfurt star, he would help with depth behind Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus, which would mean Mikel Merino would be able to return to midfield rather than playing as a makeshift striker.
How long will Havertz remain out?
The striker position has been plagued by injury this season, with Jesus and Havertz both missing a significant amount of time. Jesus returned earlier in December after being out since last January, but Havertz is yet to make his return to the Arsenal squad.
Arteta most recently spoke on Havertz’s knee injury on Boxing Day, when he suggested the 26-year-old is getting closer to making his return heading into January. He said: “He's a player that we missed a lot, a player that brings the team into a different dimension. So, I'm really happy to have him back very soon.”
Reports indicate that Havertz could play against Bournemouth on January 3, which comes after the Aston Villa game. If not, he could make his return in the huge clash against Liverpool the following week, which would be a much-needed boost for Arteta.
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