Arsenal’s ‘genuine championship favorite’ signs for sensational £35m

Arsenal are the strongest team in the Premier League, but Mikel Arteta will be keeping an eye on his rivals during the January transfer window.

Manchester City, for example, have signed Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo and are chasing down Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehy to replenish their defence.

Arteta’s confirmation that he and technical director Andrea Berta will pursue the opportunity before the January period closes in two weeks’ time probably lends credence to many of the rumors currently flying around.

Fans have voiced concerns about the Gunners’ goal-scoring options, but Arsenal have struggled with injuries to key defenders this season, and new transfer targets have been set.

Arsenal strengthen reinforcements in defense

Man City may have their sights set on Guehi, but they are not the only ones interested in the England star, with Arsenal looking to seal his signature at the end of the season.

Guehi, 25, has been urged to wait until his contract at Selhurst Park expires at the end of the season after reports he was caught offside, but City are relenting and look to stamp his signature this month.

It’s probably important to be realistic this season, but Berta may actually have found an even bigger talent to strengthen Arteta’s backline.

Transfer insider Graham Bailey says Arsenal are “real candidates” in the race to sign Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jaquet, who has attracted a lot of interest following his impressive start to his career in France, with Chelsea also registering a vested interest.

Jacquet is only 20 years old but has already established himself as one of the world’s most promising defenders and is valued at £35m.

Why Jacket is perfect for Arsenal

Arsenal’s defense has been outstanding under Arteta. In William Saliba and Gabriel Magalles, Londoners have a quote from the horse’s mouth that says they have “the best partnership in the world”.

Jaquet has natural qualities on the ball and leadership skills, leading some to label him the new Saliba, suggesting he could become Arsenal’s mainstay in the future.

With that in mind, perhaps he could become an even bigger talent than Guehi, who is actually captain of Oliver Glasner’s side and has been hailed as “one of the best defenders in the league” by an Arsenal content writer.

The France Under-21 international is riding the crest of a wave at a young age and will surely be charmed by the chance to join the world’s strongest defensive unit at the Emirates.

He is already very strong in duels, very calm and accurate on the ball. In this respect, he may be a better talent than Guehi, who is five years older. Guehi left Chelsea in 2021 and was a year senior when he signed for Crystal Palace for £18 million.

It is a testament to Jaquet’s quality that he has already settled into a leading role at Ligue 1 side Rennes. Jaquet was a key figure in Habib Bayet’s side, who were in sixth place in France’s top flight.

Jaquet, described by analyst and scout Ben Mattinson as having “the potential of a top-five centre-back in the world”, could be the perfect signing to ensure Arsenal’s backline remains the meanest in the game for years to come.

Guehi would be an immediate asset to Arteta, but Arteta already has two strong players at his disposal and Jaquet could face them at the top in the coming years.