Arsenal: Arsene Wenger expects an extremely busy January transfer window for all clubs

Arsene Wenger believes the January transfer window will see a lot of clubs splurging in the market to rejuvenate their teams, with the bottom clubs looking to beat the drop while the clubs near the top will be desperate for an influx of more quality in a bid to realise their title dreams. Leicester City are the only club in the top seven to have completed a deal thus far, with Demarai Gray making his way to the King Power Stadium.

The Gunners have been linked with a move for Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny, with Wenger confirming that the transfer will be completed in the next few days as his work permit and visa issues get sorted out with the UEFA. Manchester United have also been linked with a myriad of players, including Southampton's Sadio Mane, but Ronald Koeman's insistence on keeping the player at the club has all but scuppered the move.

Liverpool have a barrage of injuries to worry about, something Jurgen Klopp will be looking to address before the transfer window comes to a close. Meanwhile, near the bottom, Aston Villa and Newcastle United have been eagerly scouring the market for potential replenishments, with the Villans all but resigned to being relegated, currently at a meagre eight points, 11 points adrift of safety.

"My prediction is that this could be one of the most active January transfer windows that we've seen," said Wenger, as quoted by Goal. "It is all down to the financial power of the English clubs and the inflation which could exist in the summer when the new TV deal comes into play.

"There is an anticipation to do business now and everyone is feeling the responsibility to do something in the transfer market this month. The teams who are near the bottom like Aston Villa and who fear to go down will feel under pressure not to accept the situation.

"And with the title race so open this time, the teams near the top will also feel that if they can improve their squad it could make a difference. When I arrived in England you could sign players throughout the season. Now we have this concentration of transfer activity but I feel it was better before," he added.