The mega £70m transfer Arsenal could make in January in hopes of supercharging title bid

Arsenal may be the reigning Premier League champions and might have started their season in a way which suggests that they’re in good shape to contend once more, but there’s little doubt that the Gunners still see room for improvement in their squad – and they seem to have a very expensive shortlist ahead of the January transfer window.

The focus is on finding another forward. Their well-publicised attempts to sign Julián Alvarez over the summer came to nothing, and the club are still looking at options on the left wing despite the emergence of Christos Tzolis. Alvarez remains a player of interest, as does Bournemouth’s injured young forward Eli Junior Kroupi – but the other forward they’re tracking is slightly more surprising…

The surprising signing that Arsenal seem to be considering

According to Football.London, Arsenal are also keeping tabs on Brentford’s Kevin Schade, whose early season form won’t have dissuaded the Gunners from pursuing interest that they apparently held during the summer transfer window as well.

TEAMtalk reported that Arsenal had made an enquiry regarding the 24-year-old’s availability before the transfer deadline, although their approach seems to have fizzled out after they were told that they would have to make Schade Brentford’s biggest ever sale, exceeding the £70m that they received for Bryan Mbeumo a year earlier.

Given that Arsenal were still trying to persuade Alvarez to move to the Emirates, they decided not to pursue Schade further, but the new reports suggest that he hasn’t fallen off their radar.

Brentford, for their part, are keen to tie Schade – who was once their club record signing at £22m – down to a new contract, with his current deal set to expire in 2028. Should they fail to agree to fresh terms, however, they may find themselves compelled to sell sooner rather than later in order to ensure they receive a respectable transfer fee.

It’s unclear, at this stage, whether Arsenal and Brentford would be able to agree a transfer fee in January – or whether Schade is as high on the Gunners’ list of priorities as players like Kroupi – but if they still feel the need for another attacking option come the winter, then Schade could become a very plausible option. Cheaper than Kroupi even at an inflated price, and more obtainable that Alvarez, who seems to have his heart set on Barcelona. But would he be a good signing based on what we’ve seen at Brentford?

Is Kevin Schade good enough to play for Arsenal?

If Arsenal do press forward with their interest in Schade down the line, it may raise a few eyebrows at Brentford – the German forward is a player who has frustrated the club’s fans just as frequently as he’s thrilled them.

His scoring record is remarkably patchy and he’s been nothing if not inconsistent. He scored eight Premier League goals last season, but needed 12.18xG’s worth of chances to do so. That’s a level of efficiency in front of goal most defenders exceed, although he’s been far more precise in the past – and has been so far this season, too.

His work in one-on-one situations can cause eyes to roll, as well. Schade was successful with just 27% of his attempted dribbles last season and seems to lack the kind of technicality and trickery that most elite wingers have in their locker. His work rate isn’t in question, and nor is his intent. His execution, however, can leave something to be desired.

What helps him to move beyond his limitations, however, is his searing pace. He’s been speedgunned at a sizzling 22.3mph, which puts him only just behind the very quickest players in the top flight. That pace means that he can latch onto balls other forwards can’t reach, and beat defenders for sheer speed – and when he’s on form with his finishing, that can make him utterly lethal.

Still, even Schade’s most ardent fans at Brentford might not describe him as a reliable player. A gamebreaker at his best and someone who sets eyes rolling at other times, Schade would be an intriguing signing for a side like Arsenal, who tend to prize technicality under Mikel Arteta.

It’s possible that they see enough from players like Tzolis over the coming months to feel that they don’t need to take an expensive risk on Schade come January – but if things aren’t going well, then he could become a genuine option for a position in which Arsenal do lack depth.