Arsene Wenger will not make any major signings this January – as he needs to resolve the futures of five of his biggest stars, TheSUN has reported.
Arsenal still have a number of transfer targets but will wait until next summer to complete those deals if possible.
Wenger wants to ensure that Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud, Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla pledge their futures to the north London club.
Sanchez and Ozil both have 18 months left on their current contracts but want improved salaries.
There has been some back and forth with Giroud about what he should be paid, but the club and player have a £20,000-a-week difference in price.
The two parties should reach an agreement soon.
Coquelin has a contract until June 2019 but is in line for a pay-rise, while Cazorla’s deal runs out in June.
The injury-prone Spaniard, 32, is likely to get a one-year extension – in line with the club’s policy on players over 30.
Wenger still has a list of targets.
His top two targets arejos Juventus star Miralem Pjanic, who Wenger sees as a long-term replacement for Santi Cazorla, and Torino striker Andrea Belotti.
But the Gunners were put off by a £50million price-tag on the Italian and believe the price will come down in the summer.
Wenger is chasing a left-back in January, however.
Ricardo Rodriguez is the first-choice for Wenger, but is heavily linked with a move to Inter after turning down a move to Chelsea.
If the Wolfsburg man is not available then Wenger will turn to Valencia and Spain Under-21 star Jose Luis Gaya.
