Arsenal star 'ready to leave' in January amid European interest as Liverpool 'progress' with player contract

With another exhilarating round of Premier League results on the board, the competition is well and truly hotting up. Clubs continue to fight for their place at the top of the table, while those struggling at the foot of the standings are scrambling to put daylight between them and the dreaded drop-zone.

The summer saw a flurry of new recruits arrive in the Premier League but there are already plenty of rumours doing the rounds ahead of January. Let’s take a look at some of the latest top flight rumours in anticipation of the winter window.

Arsenal star ‘ready to leave’ ahead of January window

While Arsenal parted ways with some senior players over the summer, including Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah, there could be further exits on the cards as we approach the winter window. According to Calciomercato, Italian powerhouses Napoli, Juventus and Inter are all on the market for a new centre-back and an option could be Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is ‘ready to leave Arsenal’.

The Japanese international is a right-back by trade but he is confident playing in any position across the backline. The report claims that the club have ‘given approval’ for a possible January move away from the Emirates, with Juventus expected to ‘test the waters’ over a cost and the feasibility of bringing the defender to Italy. Having previously played for Bologna, Tomiyasu will reportedly be happy to make a return to Serie A.

The 3AM Verdict: Since the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori over the summer, Tomiyasu has slipped down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta and he has also faced a lengthy time on the sidelines due to a knee injury. Aside from a string of injuries last season, Tomiyasu was a regular for Arsenal but with his fitness something of a concern and his contract up in 2026, the Gunners could do smart business by opting to cash in while they can, especially if those in charge have already given the green light for discussions in the new year.

Liverpool ‘progressing’ with new player contract

After getting some new signings over the line and confirming the sales and loan exits of some senior players, Liverpool’s focus is now starting to shift to contact extensions. Tying down the trio who are into the final 12 months of their deals has been the main focus for fans, as the Reds run a huge risk of losing Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah next summer.

A new report has provided an update on the Reds’ contract talks but unfortunately for the concerns fans, it isn’t with any of the three players mentioned. According to Rousing the Kop, Liverpool are ‘progressing’ with a new contract for Luis Díaz, who has hit the ground running this season under Arne Slot.

The Colombian has contributed five goals in as many Premier League games so far this season, making an extremely welcome impact following the summer’s uncertainty regarding a potential exit.

The 3AM Verdict: Díaz is a key player for Liverpool and keeping him at Anfield will be a big statement from the club. However, right now, fans will surely be frustrated that there is no concrete update on either of the three who are out of contract in 2025. Securing the future of important players is key but there are three glaring crucial players who should be the priority above anybody else at the moment, as there are now just a matter of months before pre-contract talks can commence.