Mikel Arteta could be dealt with a devastating blow as a Premier League rule could be preventing them from signing another forward this January.
Arsenal have been widely linked with a range of promising strikers from across Europe but the Gunners have been rumoured to be interested in taking Brighton and Hove Albion star Evan Ferguson away from the south coast in a January loan move.
Mikel Arteta’s squad is in dire need of bolstering their attacking line-up to revive their dwindling title aspirations. The Gunners’ forward Gabriel Jesus is set for surgery on his left knee following an ACL injury sustained during the FA Cup loss to Manchester United, leaving Arsenal without any available strikers.
But in order to be able to secure Fergusson on loan, the Gunners would need to offload either Raheem Stirling or Neto, with just three days of the window left. This is because Premier League rules limit clubs to two loan signings from other top-flight teams, a quota Arsenal have already filled.
It means if Arsenal wanted to finally secure a striker, whether it be Ferguson or Ollie Watkins, it would have to be on a permanent deal. Gunners supporters have been crying out for a solid source of goals up top with Arteta insisting he understands the nature of the market, adding: “No, I understand it happens as well in the summer, and I get a lot of people texting ‘When are you signing him and him and something’ I don’t even know what they’re talking about.
“I don’t follow it too much. I have enough work to do with a lot of things, so I don’t get too distracted with it.”
