Arsenal and Manchester United have both been linked with a move for a striker who's likely to leave their club in January, with the Gunners chasing a deal since the summer of 2024.
12:25, 10 Jan 2026
Mikel Arteta reacting on the pitch.
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Arsenal now face a battle to snap-up Igor Tyjon from Blackburn Rovers.(Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images))
Manchester United are reportedly eyeing up a January transfer window swoop for Blackburn Rovers talent Igor Tyjon, a player Arsenal have been pursuing for over a year.
As reported by The Sun, United are now keen to sign the 17-year-old prodigy, who is likely to move on this winter. The Gunners have shown interest since the summer of 2024, with several offers exceeding £1m being turned down by the Championship side.
The January transfer window alters the scenario for Blackburn, the youngster himself and all clubs vying for his signature, as he approaches the end of his scholarship. Tyjon has recently declined the offer to sign professional terms at Ewood Park, leading the club to accept the inevitable loss in the coming months.
January presents the final chance for Blackburn to receive a development fee for the striker before he departs in the summer months. If the Championship club delays, they will only be entitled to compensation for the player in the summer, when he's free to sign elsewhere.
Tyjon, who has represented both England and Poland in youth internationals, has made three senior appearances for Rovers during the 2024/25 season, including two in the Championship and one in the EFL Cup. The forward has primarily continued his development with the academy teams this season.
The fee Blackburn would demand for Tyjon remains uncertain, but the move appears set to bolster the academy set-up at either United or Arsenal. This potential transfer highlights the long-term vision at both clubs, whilst also demonstrating the challenges posed by the January transfer window.
Igor Tyjon inspecting the pitch.
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Igor Tyjon is once again being linked with Arsenal, but there could be competition.(Image: Simon Holmes/The FA via Getty Images)
For Arsenal, it's evident sporting director Andrea Berta is prioritising academy development in his recent transfer business. The Gunners have already secured deals for Edwin and Holger Quintero from Independiente del Valle, as well as Victor Ozhianvuna from Shamrock Rovers.
All three new recruits are 16-years-old and won't be able to join until 2027, but it's a clear indication of Arsenal's swift action to bolster their academy. The north London outfit is at a stage where they need to secure victories, now, having brought in several stars entering their prime, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze.
These players, combined with some already at the club, might potentially have little resale value once their peak performance period concludes. Couple this with the potential of them all departing around the same time due to the squad's overall age profile, and there's a pressing need to future-proof the team.
The presence of academy talents like Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman certainly aids this, but there are opportunities out there to further strengthen. Bringing Tyjon on board could add another dimension, particularly as Arsenal's youth ranks are somewhat thin on striking options - especially with Andre Harriman-Annous stepping up to the senior side.
As for deals that can improve the squad here and now for the remainder of the campaign, there's an expectation that it will be a quiet market. That hasn't stopped Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta from suggesting that the club are still looking in the market at potential opportunities to strengthen.
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"We're going to be really aware of the situation and the timescale of certain players," the manager said earlier this month when talking about injured players.
"We have to be actively looking [in the transfer market], and then can we do it or not? That's a different story, but our job is to be always very prepared because something can happen."
Links to Marc Guehi and Bradley Barcola have persisted in the past week - though it remains to be seen how likely those proposed deals are this month.