With the transfer window closing on September 1, Arsenal are reportedly planning to offload up to nine surplus players in a bid to raise £100m for reinvesting in the squad under Mikel Arteta‘s command.
- Arsenal plans to offload up to nine surplus players to raise £100m for reinvestment.
- The club has spent £206.5m on new signings, including Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.
- Defensive reinforcement is a priority after Jurrien Timber’s injury, with Marc Guehi a targeted addition.
Having started the season with two Premier League wins from their opening two games, Arsenal aims to capitalise on their momentum.
They’re not constrained by Financial Fair Play rules, thanks to significant rises in club revenue streams in recent years.
The return to the lucrative Champions League has also helped balance the books.
Big signings
The Gunners have not been shy about spending, laying out £105m for Declan Rice, £65m for Kai Havertz, and £36.5m for Jurrien Timber.
The intention is to end a two-decade wait for the league title.
Key departures
Xhaka of Bayer Leverkusen looks on during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and RB Leipzig at BayArena on August 19, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Granit Xhaka, former captain, has been a significant departure, moving to Bayer Leverkusen for £21.4m.
Sales of Pablo Mari, Matt Turner and Auston Trusty have also boosted Arsenal‘s finances. Yet, more players are expected to be on their way out before the deadline.
Players who could move on
- Folarin Balogun – Age 22, striker. The academy graduate has been valued at £50m by the Gunners. After impressing in Ligue 1, a £40m move to Monaco is anticipated.
- Gabriel Magalhaes – Age 25, centre-back. Restricted to late cameos, Gabriel has been linked to Real Madrid and Saudi Arabian clubs. Arsenal are adamant he isn’t for sale but rumours still persist.
- Kieran Tierney – Age 26, left-back/centre-back. Newcastle, Aston Villa and Real Sociedad have shown interest in Tierney, who is likely to depart for more game time with a medical planned in Spain this weekend.
- Takehiro Tomiyasu – Age 24, full-back/centre-back. Interest from Crystal Palace has arisen, but Timber’s injury could mean Arsenal may resist selling him.
- Albert Sambi Lokonga – Age 23, midfielder. Brighton may wish to bring the Belgian on loan, but Arsenal may push for a full sale.
- Rob Holding – Age 27, centre-back. Interest in Holding from Turkish club Besiktas has been reported in France.
- Cedric Soares – Age 31, full-back. Linked to Villarreal and Portuguese giants Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon.
- Nicolas Pepe – Age 28, right-winger/forward. Costing £72m in 2019, Pepe has not lived up to expectations, and links to Besiktas and Saudi Arabia have surfaced.
- Nuno Tavares – Age 23, left-back. Aston Villa appears to be leading the race to sign Tavares, who has been deemed surplus at Arsenal.
Defensive priorities
Cover at centre-back is a priority after Timber’s ACL injury.
Crystal Palace‘s Marc Guehi is a defender admired by the Gunners, and the funds raised from selling the aforementioned players could be immediately reinvested in shoring up the defence.