Arsenal target Matanovic won't leave Freiburg before summer

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Arsenal have identified Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic as a potential attacking addition, but any move for the Bundesliga forward will have to wait until the summer at the earliest.

Matanovic has been developing into one of the more eye-catching strikers in the German top flight, and that form has reportedly put him on Arsenal's radar as the club looks to bring in at least one new attacker to bolster Mikel Arteta's options up front.

According to Football Insider, Freiburg have no intention of letting Matanovic go in January. The German club reportedly want him to see out the full campaign with them, meaning a mid-season swoop from Arsenal is considered highly unlikely.

Gyokeres' role under scrutiny

Interest in Matanovic comes against the backdrop of question marks over Viktor Gyokeres' adaptation to life in north London. The Swede has enjoyed strong form on international duty, but has found regular minutes and consistent output harder to come by in Arsenal's setup so far.

Arsenal are said to be hopeful Gyokeres can still settle into Arteta's system and deliver the goals expected of him following his move to the club. Even so, speculation persists that a suitable offer could see the club consider offloading him if his struggles continue.

Arteta has a track record of making bold calls when a player isn't fitting his system, regardless of reputation or profile. That willingness to shake things up is part of why links to forwards like Matanovic are being taken seriously, even with competition already present in that area of the squad.

Why January is off the table

Freiburg's stance effectively rules out any January move. The club are reportedly in no rush to sell mid-season and see no financial or sporting reason to part with one of their most promising forwards before the summer transfer window.

That leaves Arsenal in a position where they may have to keep their interest low-key and wait for the opportunity to present itself once the season concludes. Pursuing a deal prematurely risks driving up Freiburg's valuation or complicating negotiations further down the line.

For now, the priority for Arsenal remains getting the best out of the attacking options already on the books. Whether Matanovic becomes a genuine target in the summer window will likely depend on how the rest of the campaign unfolds for both Gyokeres and the rest of Arsenal's frontline.