Leon Goretzka
January 2026
Arsenal made a late bid for Goretzka as emergency midfield cover after Merino’s injury, but Goretzka chose to stay at Bayern through the season. Reports say Arsenal “intervened” late with a formal approach, with Arteta viewing Goretzka as the physical, box-to-box profile to protect Arsenal’s midfield for the title run-in and Champions League knockouts. The move collapsed because the player preferred a structured exit plan, pushing any transfer decision into a likely summer market battle.