Arsenal eye January move for Atletico Madrid's Alex Baena after Bukayo Saka injury blow
Arsenal are plotting a January swoop to sign Atletico Madrid forward Alex Baena, according to Football Transfers, after Bukayo Saka's quadriceps injury against Bayern Munich heightened the club's need for another winger. The 25-year-old Spaniard is valued at £37m by Transfermarkt, though any offer would likely need to exceed that.
- Target: Alex Baena, Atletico Madrid forward, aged 25
- Moving club: Arsenal, Premier League champions
- Timing: January transfer window
- Valuation: £37m (Transfermarkt), with Arsenal expected to pay above that
- Catalyst: Bukayo Saka's quadriceps injury in the 2-2 Champions League draw with Bayern Munich
- Source: Football Transfers report
Deal details
According to Football Transfers, Arsenal are plotting a January swoop to sign Baena, having earmarked the Spaniard as a potential option for the winter window. The report claims Arsenal hold a longstanding interest in Baena dating back to his time at Villarreal, and are now set to reignite that interest.
The reported plan is for Baena to replicate Saka's inverted role at right wing. No fee has been agreed and no formal offer has been confirmed; the £37m Transfermarkt valuation is described as a figure Arsenal would have to comfortably exceed to convince Atletico to sell. The deal therefore remains at the rumour stage, with Arsenal's interest reported rather than a negotiation under way.
Injury and availability
Bukayo Saka lasted just ten minutes of Arsenal's 2-2 Champions League draw with Bayern Munich in midweek before being forced off with a quadriceps problem, having gone down without anyone around him. Mikel Arteta later admitted the initial signs "doesn't look good at all", raising fears over the winger's availability.
Noni Madueke moved across to the right flank after Saka was substituted, while Eberechi Eze entered the game from the bench and found the net from the left. Both offered encouraging contributions, but an extended absence for Saka could leave Arteta short of options in the wide positions.
What was said
"doesn't look good at all"
Arteta's assessment is deliberately cautious rather than definitive, but the phrasing signals genuine concern. A player going down without contact and lasting only ten minutes is a red flag for a muscle issue, and Arsenal's medical staff will have a clearer picture after further assessment.
The immediate consequence is tactical: Madueke shifting to the right and Eze scoring from the left shows Arsenal have internal cover, but it also thins the options available to Arteta across a demanding run of fixtures. That is precisely the gap a January signing would address.
The numbers
- £37m: Baena's Transfermarkt valuation
- 8: Baena's overall goal contributions in all competitions this season
- 5 goals and 2 assists: His La Liga return so far this campaign
- 5 of 9: La Liga appearances Baena has started
- 528 of 810: Minutes played in La Liga this season
- 20: Chances created in La Liga — only four players have more
- 3.4: Chances created per 90 minutes — third among players with at least 500 La Liga minutes
- 4: Accurate through balls — sixth in La Liga
- 13: Chances created by Martin Odegaard in the Premier League this season
- 2.1: Odegaard's chances created per 90 minutes in the league
Why Baena's chance creation makes him a genuine Arsenal target
The numbers explain the link more clearly than any scouting report could. Baena has started only five of nine La Liga games and played 528 of a possible 810 minutes, yet only four players in Spain's top flight have created more than his 20 chances. His 3.4 chances created per 90 minutes ranks third among players with at least 500 minutes, and his four accurate through balls place him sixth in the league.
Arsenal's own creative benchmark is Martin Odegaard, who has produced 13 chances in the Premier League this season at a rate of 2.1 per 90 minutes. Baena's output is not simply comparable — on a per-minute basis in La Liga it is higher, and that is while settling into a new club after moving to the Wanda Metropolitano.
The tactical logic is straightforward. Arsenal's need for another winger has become more apparent following Saka's injury, and the reported plan is for Baena to replicate Saka's inverted role on the right. That means a left-footed creator drifting inside to combine with Odegaard and the central midfield, rather than a touchline winger. Adding another creative midfielder would also give Arteta an extra option to unlock low blocks and stubborn defences, an issue that has dogged Arsenal against organised sides. Madueke and Eze offer athleticism and directness; Baena would offer something different — volume of chances and through-ball penetration.
Talking points
- Is £37m a fair valuation for a player starting only five of nine La Liga games, or does Baena's per-90 creativity make the fee a bargain in a January market?
- Should Arsenal sign a winger in January at all, or trust Madueke and Eze to cover Saka rather than accelerate a deal?
- Baena has taken time to find his feet at Atletico — can Arsenal afford a settling-in period mid-season, or would they need him to deliver immediately?
- Does a January swoop make sense for a club already able to shift Madueke right and deploy Eze left, or is this a case of the injury panic driving the market?
What happens next
Arsenal's medical staff will assess Saka's quadriceps problem to establish the extent of his absence, and that diagnosis will shape whether the club pushes ahead with a January approach. The winter window is the deadline for any move, with Atletico's willingness to sell at a price above £37m the key outstanding question. Arsenal's next fixtures will show how Arteta copes without Saka and whether the wide options hold up.
Frequently asked questions
Are Arsenal signing Alex Baena in January?
Arsenal are plotting a January swoop to sign Baena, according to Football Transfers, having earmarked the Atletico Madrid forward as a potential option. No fee has been agreed and the report describes interest rather than a completed deal.
How much would Alex Baena cost Arsenal?
Baena is valued at £37m by Transfermarkt, but the report states Arsenal would have to submit an offer well above that valuation to convince Atletico Madrid to sell him.
Why do Arsenal want Alex Baena after the Bayern Munich draw?
Bukayo Saka was forced off after ten minutes of the 2-2 Champions League draw against Bayern Munich with a quadriceps problem, and Mikel Arteta admitted the initial signs "doesn't look good at all", prompting Arsenal to explore alternatives.
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