Arsenal set to miss out on Atletico midfielder in January
Arsenal's interest in Alex Baena is unlikely to produce a January transfer, with Atletico Madrid determined to keep hold of one of their most important players until at least the end of the season.
Having failed to land Julian Alvarez from Atletico in the summer, Arsenal are understood to still be exploring other targets at the Spanish club, with Baena identified as a player who could strengthen Mikel Arteta's squad. The 24 year old has been in excellent form for Atletico in recent seasons and is widely regarded as one of La Liga's standout performers.
The Friday Injury Tracker
Who's out, who's back and what it means for the next two games.
According to Football Insider, Arsenal have been working behind the scenes to explore a potential deal for Baena, with a January move reportedly considered internally at the Emirates. However, the same report states that if Arsenal do push to sign him in the winter window, they are expected to fail.
Atletico in no mood to sell
Baena remains a key figure in Diego Simeone's plans, and Atletico have demonstrated in recent transfer windows that they have the financial resources to retain their best players rather than cash in on them midseason. That stance is said to make any departure in January highly unlikely, regardless of Arsenal's interest.
Atletico are reportedly keen to keep their squad intact until the end of the campaign, preferring stability over a sale that could disrupt their season. For Arsenal, that means any serious move for Baena would likely have to wait until next summer at the earliest.
Why patience could pay off
Delaying a move for Baena until the summer may not necessarily be a bad outcome for Arsenal. By that stage, the club would have a clearer picture of its priorities for the following season and more time to properly assess how Baena would fit into Arteta's system.
There is also an argument that further time at Atletico would benefit Baena's own development, even if it complicates the prospect of a deal being struck. For now, the sensible approach for Arsenal appears to be maintaining interest from a distance and being ready to act decisively if Atletico's stance shifts once the season concludes.
Arsenal's pursuit of attacking reinforcements from Atletico Madrid looks set to continue well beyond the January window, with the summer of 2027 shaping up as the more realistic opportunity to get a deal for Baena over the line.
