Arsenal target Hugo Larsson and Mateo Retegui for winter moves | OneFootball

Arsenal are positioning themselves for an ambitious January transfer window, with Hugo Larsson of Eintracht Frankfurt and Atalanta‘s Mateo Retegui both on their radar as they aim to strengthen Mikel Arteta‘s squad for the second half of the season.

The Gunners are reportedly keen on accelerating their pursuit of Larsson, with Liverpool also showing strong interest in the young midfielder.

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY – OCTOBER 24: Hugo Larsson of Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rigas FS at Deutsche Bank Park on October 24, 2024 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal intend to make an early move in January to secure Larsson’s services, seeking to outpace Liverpool and any other potential suitors.

AC Milan have also been mentioned as monitoring the Swedish international, though they have yet to commit to making an official approach.

Eintracht Frankfurt, for their part, are understood to be willing to sell Larsson, provided an offer meets their valuation of the player. However, complications could arise due to a recent thigh injury suffered by the 20-year-old.

The specifics of the injury remain somewhat unclear, and it is uncertain when Larsson will be back in action.

Larsson’s playing career began in his homeland with Malmö FF, where he made 67 appearances and scored three goals, before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt. At the German club, he has featured in 54 matches, netting five times.

On the international stage, Larsson has represented Sweden at multiple age levels, starting from the Under-17s up to the senior national team, where he has earned eight caps. This breadth of experience at such a young age is part of what makes him an attractive prospect for Arsenal.

BERGAMO, ITALY – NOVEMBER 10: Mateo Retegui of Atalanta BC in action during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Udinese Calcio at Gewiss Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The Gunners also have an inside track on Larsson thanks to their connections with his agency, which also represents Viktor Gyökeres, the Sporting CP striker. Arsenal’s relationship with the agents has reportedly allowed them to gather valuable information regarding Larsson’s availability and conditions for a potential move.

While Larsson appears to be the primary target, Arsenal are also considering other options, with Mateo Retegui of Atalanta being a notable alternative. Retegui, who joined Atalanta recently, has been gaining attention with his performances in Serie A, and Arsenal view him as a potential addition if their pursuit of Larsson fails to materialise.