Arsenal are trying to sort out two jobs at once. Reports say Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice are on course to have new contracts finalised before January, while Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino could be in doubt as the club look to balance its finances. Arsenal sit top of the Premier League with 27 points from 10 matches and a 10-goal difference, so the squad planning is being done from a strong position, not a scrambling one.
Arsenal's contract squeeze
The main thread here is simple enough. Arsenal want contract clarity around some of their core players, and the names attached to that are all important for different reasons. Odegaard's 7.24 Premier League rating points to the level Arsenal are trying to secure, while Rice's five assists give the club another key player worth locking down.
Merino sits in a different place in the discussion. His 6.6 rating is steadier than spectacular, and that helps explain why he is being mentioned in the balancing conversation rather than the renewal push. The reporting does not say Arsenal are definitely moving anyone on, only that Gyokeres and Merino could be caught up if the club needs to square the numbers.
Zubimendi and the wider market
Away from north London, Martín Zubimendi has emerged as a potential January target for Atletico Madrid. He has already made 7 Premier League appearances and played 109 league minutes, which suggests he is being used rather than left on the margins, even if that footprint is still fairly modest.
Atletico's interest makes sense as a monitoring move, but it is still only interest at this stage. The same goes for the other headline link in the roundup. Barcelona have expressed interest in Jonathan Tah, yet Sky Sports Germany says Bayern München do not plan to let him leave and Tah is not considering a move.
The broader picture is that Arsenal's market planning is happening alongside other clubs trying to solve their own squad issues. Leeds are planning to step up talks to extend Dominic Calvert-Lewin's deal until 2030, while Bayern are considering Ian Maatsen and Samuel Lino among possible back-up options to Jonas Urbig. Arsenal's own challenge looks more immediate, though. The club want to finish one round of contract work before January, and the same reporting says two names could still be vulnerable if finances force a compromise.
FAQ
Will Arsenal finalise new contracts before January?
Reports say Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice are on course to have new contracts finalised before January. Arsenal are also being linked with a balancing act over Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino, so the club’s planning is not only about adding players.
Why are Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino being linked with Arsenal uncertainty?
The reporting says both could be in doubt as Arsenal look to balance their finances. That sits alongside progress on new deals for Odegaard, Timber and Rice, which makes this a two-way squad planning story rather than a simple recruitment push.
Is Martin Zubimendi a January target for Atletico Madrid?
Martin Zubimendi has emerged as a potential January transfer target for Atletico Madrid, but there is no confirmation of a bid or approach. He has made 7 Premier League appearances and played 109 league minutes, while Atletico are 3rd in La Liga with 28 points from 12 games.
What is the situation with Barcelona and Jonathan Tah?
Barcelona have expressed interest in Jonathan Tah, but Sky Sports Germany says Bayern do not plan to let him leave and Tah is not considering a move. The links are there, but the reporting stops short of suggesting a deal is close.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
