With the January transfer window approaching, Arsenal could be active in strengthening their squad.

The Gunners have a few areas that require reinforcement, including the need for a new striker. Recent links have connected them to Alexander Isak, and a new goalkeeper may also be on their radar.

Arsenal had considered signing Joan Garcia in the summer, but the deal fell through, and while Neto joined on loan, the Brazilian is not viewed as a long-term option.

Steve Kay recently spoke on KS1 TV about Arsenal’s potential January transfer moves, mentioning that he has heard Illan Meslier of Leeds United could be a target for the Gunners.

While Kay noted that he hasn’t received this information from a top source, it is a situation worth monitoring.

“Is there any other transfer stories about at the moment?” Kay was asked.

“There’s a few. Arsenal are looking at a goalkeeper. Possibly a goalkeeper could come in in January. I have been given a name. The Leeds goalkeeper is someone I’ve been told. I need to look into that. It’s not from one of my top sources if you like, but it’s one we’re keeping an eye on. Illan Meslier,” Kay said.

Meslier is a goalkeeper with both strengths and weaknesses.

The £5m-rated player has made some errors in the past and has faced significant criticism. However, he is a skilled shot-stopper, and throughout his time in the Premier League, he often played behind a team under heavy pressure.

Under Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch, Leeds’ aggressive playing style led to numerous shots on goal, and while Meslier conceded many, he also managed to save several.

Notably, former Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has defended Meslier against some of the criticism he received during his Premier League career.

“When we played Leeds away Meslier has made five or six saves first half but they were 3-0 down,” Ramsdale said.

“Nobody was mentioning his saves, they mentioned one of the goals which he might have done better for.

“If you get 10 shots at you, more times than not you’re going to let one in, but that’s what people always talk about. That’s for another day, but that winds me up.”

Meslier is far from a bad goalkeeper, and both Tottenham and Manchester United have previously shown interest in him.

He has informed Leeds that he plans to leave if they fail to secure promotion by the end of the season, as he has aspirations of becoming France’s number one goalkeeper for the 2026 World Cup.

However, if Leeds are promoted, Meslier is open to negotiating a new contract.

Rennes are interested in him, but Meslier believes he has the potential to join a top-tier club. He does want to be a first-choice goalkeeper at his next destination, which could pose a challenge at Arsenal due to David Raya’s position as the current number one.

Red Bull Salzburg’s sporting director, Rouven Schroder, has dismissed the possibility of a January move for Max Wober, citing the Leeds United defender’s price tag as a significant hurdle.

Wober has recently been linked with a potential return to Salzburg, with Schroder acknowledging the 26-year-old alongside Feyenoord’s Gernot Trauner as “two very good players.” However, he emphasized that Salzburg will “carefully evaluate transfers,” tempering expectations.

Speculation about a move gained momentum after Salzburger Nachrichten suggested that “only details need to be finalized” for the transfer to go through. However, over the weekend, Schroder publicly addressed the rumors again, seemingly aiming to dampen the ongoing chatter.

“Wober is one of three central defenders at Leeds and they have maximum ambitions to get into the Premier League. It will be difficult to put the money on the table,” Schroder told Austrian outlet Laola1. “[He is] not a hot commodity at the moment. It has nothing to do with the player, he’s top. We may have to take a more modest approach and make a clever loan transfer.”

Speculation around Max Wober’s future emerged during a period when he struggled for involvement at Leeds, with his path to the first team blocked by the standout performances of Pascal Struijk and Junior Firpo. However, Firpo’s serious hamstring injury earlier this month, ruling him out until the New Year, has opened the door for Wober to step up.

Wober seized the opportunity, coming on to replace Firpo against Derby County and scoring Leeds’ second goal with a well-timed run and finish from close range. He then played a full 90 minutes for the first time this season in Leeds’ 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough last week.

The Austrian international showcased his defensive capabilities under the lights at Elland Road, particularly in handling the lively Ben Doak, despite an unfortunate own-goal. His contributions, both offensively and defensively, highlight his growing impact as he reflects on his goal against Derby and his recent return to Elland Road.

Wober said: “It was a really good feeling. A lot of relief. Struggling a lot this season, and now finally getting some minutes, and then scoring feels amazing.”

The Austrian international was sidelined for Saturday’s match against Preston due to knee swelling but is set to be the first-choice left-back while Firpo is out. Manager Daniel Farke eased concerns about the injury during his pre-game press conference and praised Wober’s ambition to progress in his attacking game.

“I think [the performance vs Derby was important for Wober], last season was not the easiest for him away on loan,” Farke admitted recently. “The start of the season was more or less injury after injury. Today a cold start, I think he was a bit nervous without a warm up but I think he was excellent. He was greedy to do the run and if you do the run sometimes you’re rewarded and you can celebrate. I liked his attitude. Good that he came through this 70 minutes and it will give him a big boost and for his confidence.”

Tuesday night promises a blockbuster encounter for Championship fans as Daniel Farke’s Leeds United host Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough at Elland Road.

Leeds reclaimed second place in the Championship standings over the weekend with a 2-0 victory against Derby County, courtesy of first-half goals from Joe Rodon and Max Wober.

In contrast, Middlesbrough were held to a 1-1 draw away at promotion contenders Burnley. Despite creating several clear-cut opportunities in the second half, Boro failed to capitalize, leaving them in fifth place and seven points behind Leeds. The Whites will aim to widen that gap on Tuesday.

Recent matchups between these teams have been action-packed, with four of the last five clashes featuring three or more goals.

Last season, Leeds secured a double over Middlesbrough in thrilling, high-scoring matches, winning 3-2 at home and 4-3 away. However, Boro hold the upper hand in recent form, having claimed a 3-0 victory at Elland Road in this year’s EFL Cup.

This match is shaping up to be a thrilling contest, with both teams having netted 33 goals this season, suggesting fans can expect plenty of excitement.

In the lead-up to this crucial showdown, Football League World has examined the players who will be unavailable for the game.

Ilia Gruev

Ilia Gruev sustained a meniscus injury during a match against Norwich City in early October.

Following surgery, he has reportedly returned to light training, as noted by the Bulgarian outlet 24 Chasa.

However, the clash against Middlesbrough is expected to come too soon for his return, with the midfielder likely sidelined until the New Year. Fortunately, Daniel Farke has ample midfield options, especially with Ethan Ampadu available again after overcoming his own injury setbacks.

Junior Firpo

Leeds’ vital weekend victory over Derby County came with a setback as Junior Firpo suffered an injury.

The Dominican Republic international sustained a hamstring problem midway through the first half, making his return for the midweek clash against Middlesbrough highly unlikely.

Manager Daniel Farke has since confirmed that Firpo will be sidelined for four to six weeks. This opens the door for Max Wober to potentially make his first league start for Leeds since May 2023.

Jayden Bogle

Bogle completed the full 90 minutes against Derby, but during his pre-match press conference, Farke revealed that the full-back experienced hamstring discomfort.

Although the issue isn’t considered serious, the Leeds head coach indicated that Bogle is likely to sit out this game to aid his recovery. This opens the door for Isaac Schmidt to step in or potentially a return for the now fully fit Sam Byram.

Tommy Smith

Tommy Smith played a pivotal role in Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough side during the 2022-23 season, but he has been sidelined since rupturing his Achilles in October 2023.

Last month, Smith shared that he was nearing a return, but he has yet to resume training on the pitch. As a result, the experienced defender will need to wait a bit longer for his comeback.

Aidan Morris

Aidan Morris was sidelined last month after sustaining a twisted knee during an international match for the United States against Jamaica. Michael Carrick has confirmed that the midfielder will be out for “several weeks.”

As a result, Morris will miss the clash with Leeds, but Middlesbrough remain optimistic about his return in the near future. The club had invested $4 million to secure him from Columbus Crew.

Darragh Lenihan

Darragh Lenihan remains a long-term absentee, having been sidelined since September 2023 due to an ankle injury that required surgery.

This was followed up by an Achilles issue, ruling him out until at least the New Year, in what has been a very unlucky period of time for the Irishman.