Arsenal suffer transfer setback as key target tells Mikel Arteta he doesn't want to join in January

Arsenal could be forced to go back to the drawing board on their January transfer plans.

That's after one of their key targets ruled out a move to the Emirates in the next transfer window.

Mikel Arteta's side have made an unbeaten start to the new Premier League season and are currently third in the table, having won six of their opening nine games – drawing the three others.

Their promising form early on this season comes after the club spent more than £200m on new signings in the summer window, bringing the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz to the Emirates.

Despite that level of spending, Arteta and sporting director Edu have set their sights on more reinforcements in January as they look to end the club's long wait for the Premier League title.

One player who has been strongly linked with Arsenal is Wolves winger Pedro Neto, who has enjoyed an excellent start to the new campaign.

Neto has been Wolves' standout player of the season so far, already scoring one goal and providing six assists in nine league games.

But he has cooled talk of a potential exit form Molineux in January, insisting he is completely happy to remain at the club.

"I want to say that I am here and I will help everyone," he told the Telegraph. "I love the club and everybody here, I have always felt that it has given a lot to me.

"I'm enjoying the moment here so I will continue to do that. The future and long-term ambitions don’t matter. We will never go down in any situation, we are here to win and fight.

"I feel really good at the moment and hope to continue."

The Telegraph report that Wolves do not have any plans to sell Neto this season, while the player himself has informed sporting director Matt Hobbs that he will not push for a move in January.

Wolves next face Newcastle at home on Saturday, shortly after Arsenal host Sheffield United.

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Topics: Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arsenal, Football, Premier League, Transfers

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

@rory_ocallaghan