Ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown does not believe that his former manager Arsene Wenger will wait until the summer before splashing the cash on Julian Draxler.
The Gunners have been linked with a big-money move to sign the Schalke 04 midfielder before the end of the month, but Keown has said that the French coach will bide his time before signing the highly-rated German international.
"If Arsenal are going to buy a player now, it's got to be a ready-made player, like Mesut Ozil was," the 47-year-old told talkSPORT.
"Wenger is the sort of manager who deals himself a hand at the start of the season, and then plays it.
"He doesn't like dipping in [to the market in January]. They'll be saving their money for an Ozil-like signing in the summer."
The North London side are currently one point clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.