Arsenal's four forward targets in January transfer window revealed | OneFootball

Arsenal reportedly targeted four different attacking options during the January transfer window but couldn't get a deal over the line for any of them.

Following severe injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, Mikel Arteta openly admitted that the Gunners were "actively looking" for forward-thinking reinforcements during this year's window.

January came and went without a single addition - only five other Premier League clubs failed to bolster their squad last month. However, Arsenal's barren roll-call of new recruits was not for a want of trying.

The north London outfit had four main targets during the recent window, according to the Daily Mail. Arsenal made multiple offers for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins and explored a deal to bring RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko to London, while Mathys Tel and even Alvaro Morata were actively considered before they made winter moves elsewhere.

Arsenal's fruitless interest in Watkins has been well-documented, with the Gunners' £40m bid for the 29-year-old only angering their Premier League rivals - who demanded at least £60m to even countenance the possibility of selling their starting striker.

Arsenal had multiple bids for Ollie Watkins rejected / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

Sesko has been a long-term target for Arsenal and could still arrive at the Emirates in the summer, but their attempts to accelerate a move for the 21-year-old were bluntly rebuffed by RB Leipzig.

The missed bid for Tel could sting for the Gunners in years to come. The sought-after French teenager was angling for a move away from Bayern Munich this year and eventually joined Tottenham Hotspur - Arsenal's fiercest rivals - on a six-month loan deal despite rejecting a permanent move. Arteta's side ultimately didn't register an official bid for Tel, a decision they could come to regret if he excels on the other side of north London.

The most surprising revelation from Arsenal's winter activity was their interest in Morata. The 32-year-old joined AC Milan last summer after captaining Spain to the European Championship title, yet was put up for sale six months later. A natural number nine who scored 16 goals in 47 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, Morata would have been an intriguing short-term stop-gap.

In reality, the club reportedly felt that the former Real Madrid forward wouldn't have the required immediate impact on the squad to justify his arrival. Morata instead secured a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray and scored on his first start for the club.