Como defender 'top of Arsenal shortlist' as defensive hunt widens
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Arsenal's January planning is already well under way, and one name has reportedly climbed to the very top of the club's defensive shortlist: Como's Jacobo Ramon.
According to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, Ramon is being viewed as a priority target by the Gunners, with attempts to secure a deal said to be already under way. The same report notes Arsenal face competition, with several clubs monitoring the defender's situation.
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Not the only defender on the list
Ramon is far from the only centre-back being tracked by the north London side. Arsenal have also been credited with an interest in Stuttgart's Finn Jeltsch, with Sport Witness reporting that the Bundesliga club have set an asking price of around €45million (£38.5m) and are waiting on serious offers.
The 20-year-old is also said to be on Real Madrid's radar, which would raise the prospect of a bidding war for a player Stuttgart appear willing to sell at the right price.
Full-back options are being looked at too. CaughtOffside report that Arsenal and Manchester United are both keeping tabs on Porto right-back Alberto Costa, who is also being watched by Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. No formal bids have been made, and Porto hold a strong hand: Costa is contracted until 2030 with a €65m (£55.6m) release clause.
Costa, 22, joined Porto from Juventus in 2025 and racked up 47 appearances with eight assists in his first season. The report suggests Arsenal's interest is rooted in his versatility and his ability to contribute in possession.
Attacking links continue to swirl
Defence is only one part of the picture. Arsenal have reportedly made contact over a move for Manchester City striker Erling Haaland following the latest developments in City's financial case, while Julian Alvarez is said to remain a key target.
Eli Junior Kroupi, Dani Olmo and Ibrahim Maza have also been mentioned in connection with the Gunners, and Brentford winger Kevin Schade is another name on the radar — with Manchester United and Liverpool reportedly ready to compete for his signature.
It is worth keeping the tiering in mind here. Tuttomercatoweb, Sport Witness and CaughtOffside sit below the likes of David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano in the reliability pecking order, and "monitoring" a player is a long way from tabling an offer. Nothing in these reports suggests a deal is imminent.
What they do indicate is the breadth of Arsenal's scouting net as the January window approaches, with young, resale-friendly defenders in Italy, Germany and Portugal all under observation.
The international break gives the recruitment department time to firm up its rankings before the window opens on 1 January.
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