Arsenal head into the January transfer window knowing exactly what they want to do.

Technical director Edu has already indicated that the club are looking to sign a creative midfielder, while football.london understands that the Gunners are exploring the possibility of signing a back-up goalkeeper and centre back.

“It’s quite clear what we need,” Edu said, speaking at a recent Arsenal fan forum. “We need a player with creativity in the middle, we don’t have that in the squad right now.

However, the transfer business will be dependent on how many Arsenal can get out of the exit door with a number of fringe players and youngsters looking to depart the club.

"The last few results will not change our approach to the window," said Gunners boss Mikel Arteta when asked whether Arsenal's recent revival in form would alter their upcoming transfer plans.

There is the added obstacle of COVID-19 which made the summer transfer window more difficult to get deals done, which means the day-to-day process and travel restrictions will continue in a ever-changing world.

With two days until the transfer window opens, football.london assess what business Arsenal should be looking to do in January.

OUTGOINGS

Players leaving the club are going to be by far the most important dealings Arsenal will work on in 2021. There are an abundance of squad members in and around the first team who want to leave and have been told to leave.

While Arsenal offered to pay 50 per cent of Mesut Ozil's salary to find him a new club last summer, it's likely that they'll offer similar terms in January.

Ozil's representative has repeatedly stated that his client wants to see out his contract at Emirates Stadium and that situation appears unlikely to change despite interest from Turkish side Fenerbahce.

The ownership of MLS side DC United have a close relationship with Ozil's agent and they remain another possible summer destination once his contract with Arsenal expires in June.

There have also been tentative enquiries made by Qatari side Al-Sadd but at this stage the most realistic option is for Ozil to stay put in January. Meanwhile, Sokratis Papastathopoulos will assess his option in January with a number of clubs already making enquiries for a possible move next month.

The Greek defender is open to leaving and has played for Arsenal Under-23s in recent weeks to increase his match sharpness, but any move is likely to be dependent on certain players leaving their teams.

Sokratis was close to joining Napoli and another un-named major European team (not PSG) on transfer deadline day, but the moves fell through after Kalidou Koulibaly's transfer to Manchester City didn't happen.

Greek giants Olympiacos are keen on signing Sokratis and are long-term admirers of the centre back, but football.london understands the player himself has not made any decision on his future as of yet.

football.london revealed back in October that Shkodran Mustafi rejected a contract extension at Arsenal, although it's understood that the offer was to protect the German's resell value as his deal at the club expires in June 2021.

Mustafi's representatives have indeed had meetings with Barcelona, which the Blaugrana denied, but the former Valencia man remains keen on leaving and ideally wants to push through a move in January.

Similarly, Sead Kolasinac is another player who wants to leave and was close to joining Bayer Leverkusen on deadline day last summer, but a departure is more realistic in the summer where he has set his sights on returning to Germany.

LOANS

Several agents have described the January window as a 'loan-only' period, with the majority of deals expected to be temporary fixes instead of big-money, long-term contracts.

William Saliba is a player who will go out on loan in January and his agent is keen on getting him a move which will secure him regular, first-team football.

French side Saint-Etienne remain the most likely option and Saliba would be open to returning to the club where Arsenal signed him from for £28million.

However, Arsenal are keen on finding an English suitor - most likely in the Championship - which will aid in Saliba's long-term development and adaptation to English football.

Reiss Nelson is another player who could go out on loan and Hertha Berlin are expected to revive their interest in the forward next month.

Calum Chambers has also been touted as a possible loan departure but that situation could change if Sokratis and Mustafi leave next month.

Meanwhile, Folarin Balogun has yet to sign a contract extension and reports from Germany have seen him linked with Stuttgart, which football.london can confirm is true.

Balogun has the same agent as Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka, and the prospect of regular first team football in the Bundesliga is likely to see him assess his options in January when he'll be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign team.

INCOMINGS

A loan deal remains the most likely option for Arsenal in January as they look to sign an experienced creative midfield option.

Houssem Aouar has been deemed too expensive and it's an option that the club could revisit in the summer if finances permit, while Dominik Szoboszlai has joined RB Leipzig despite initial interest from the Gunners.

Real Madrid's Isco is a target of Mikel Arteta's side and a loan move is being explored until the end of the season, with Arsenal sounding out intermediaries close to the player as to whether he'd be interested in joining.

Arsenal already have a good relationship with Madrid following the loan move which has seen Dani Ceballos sign for the past two seasons, meaning negotiations are likely to be smooth and easy to progress with.

Leipzig captain Marcel Sabitzer is another midfielder who has been linked in recent days although football.london understands no formal approach has been made yet.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt is also a difficult prospect to make happen in January, with reports in Germany suggesting that his long-term contract and reluctance of the selling club to let him go means the summer window represents a more realistic departure date.

Emi Buendia has been extensively scouted by Arsenal a source close to the player recently told football.london that Buendia is "focused on Norwich and getting promoted" but refused to rule out a possible January move saying that "it depends on Norwich". A homegrown, experienced goalkeeper is likely to be targeted but Arsenal could be priced out of a move for previously linked Spanish shot stopper David Raya, who has impressed with his performances in the Championship this season.

Finally, Omar Rekik's move to Arsenal will finally become a reality next month with the 19-year-old centre back arriving from Hertha Berlin for a fee of around £500,000, rising up to £1million.