Arsenal are advancing contract plans for key players while considering attacking reinforcements, including a possible January move for Bayer Leverkusen striker Christian Kofane.
Three contract extensions
TEAMtalk insider Graeme Bailey said: "Arsenal have made significant progress in their efforts to secure new contracts for Martin Odegaard , Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice , with all three agreements on course to be finalised before January, sources have confirmed to TEAMtalk."
TEAMtalk reported that Arsenal are primed to complete three crucial contract extensions for Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice, who are described as massively important players.
Sky Germany reported that Arsenal would have begrudgingly sanctioned the sale of Martin Odegaard to Bayern Munich following the current campaign if fresh contract terms were not agreed before then. Odegaard's existing contract with Arsenal is due to expire in 2028.
Recent renewal activity
Since the summer of 2025, Arsenal have finalised new agreements with William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Bukayo Saka and Mikel Arteta.
Attacking targets
Arsenal are actively considering a January move for Christian Kofane, according to BBC Sport. Kofane has scored three goals in six appearances for Bayer Leverkusen this season before a hamstring injury sustained in October.
Kofane started both legs of the Champions League round-of-16 tie against the Premier League champions last season as Bayer Leverkusen lost 3-1 on aggregate.
Kofane moved from AS Nylon in Cameroon to Spanish side Albacete in 2024 and scored eight goals in 20 appearances in the Spanish second tier. Bayer Leverkusen signed him in July 2025. He has recorded 10 goals and nine assists in 50 total appearances for the club.
Arsenal are also reportedly monitoring Nicolo Tresoldi, who plays for Club Brugge. Tresoldi has scored 14 goals in 17 matches across all competitions for Club Brugge this season and scored a hat-trick against Inter Milan in the Champions League.
League record and Arteta's comments
Arsenal have secured nine wins from their opening 10 league fixtures, with six victories decided by a single goal. Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka each have three league goals and currently lead Arsenal's scoring charts.
Arsenal equalled their best-ever start to a Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win over Hull City.
In response to criticism over the entirely knackered Declan Rice, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: "It’s his second game in a week and not the fifth one."
The Arsenal manager told the media: "We need to find ways to be more efficient, sometimes even more pragmatic."
Arteta further elaborated on the need for a shift in mentality, stating: "Sometimes my feeling is that we are trying to score a perfect goal against these low blocks. We need to be much more chaotic than that , and that's it. And open, I think, the scoreline much earlier because obviously that's going to change the course of the game."
